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COLLECTION 


O    F 


Religious  Tra&s, 


In  Proportion  as  we  die  to  the  Love  of  material  Objects 
and  earthly  Affections,  we  advance  in  a  fpirimal 
Growth  :  we  break  our  Bands  afunder,  and  rife  in- 
to the  Liberty  of  the  Sons  of  God,  The  pronenefs 
of  the  human  Mind  to  confine  itfelf  to  the  Objects  of 
Senfe,  joined  to  the  inordinate  Love  of  them ; 
flrengthened  by  Example  and  Cuftom,  do  fo  famili- 
arize material  Mature  to  the  Thoughts  of  the  learn- 
ed and  unlearned,  that  by  Degrees,  they  become, 
as  it  were,  chained  down  to  it;  hence  fo  great  a 
Number  fail  under  the  Predicament  of  the  Apoftie, 
Judeverfe  19.     ««  Senfual not  having  the  Spii it." 

Pref.  to  Swedeng." 


PHILADELPHIA: 

Printed   by   Joseph   Crukshank,   in  Third- 
ftreet,   oppofite  the  Work-houfe. 


M,DCC,LXXIII. 


SERIOUS 

CONSIDERATIONS 

On  feveral  Important 

SUBJECTS; 

VIZ. 

On   War  and  its   Inconfiftency  with  the 
Gospel. 

Obfervations  on  Slavery. 

and 

Remarks  on  the  Nature  and  bad  Effects  of 
Spirituous    Liquors. 


Ah!  \V hy  will  men  forget  that  they  are  Brethren, 

why  delight, 

In  human  Sacrifice  ?-— — Why  burft  the  ties 

Of  Nature,  that  fhould  knit  their  Souls  together, 

In  one  foft  band  of  Amity  and  Love. 

Father  of  men,  was  it  for  this! 
Thy  breath  divine,  kindled  within  his  breaft, 
The  vital  flame  ?  For  this,  was  thy  fair  Image 
Stampt  on  his  Sou!,  with  god-like  lineaments? 
For  this,  dominion  given  him  abfolute 
O'er  all  thy  works,  only  that  he  might  reign 
Supreme  in  woe? /p  ^f  :,p\     ProteTJS. 

PHILA^DELHIA: 

Printed  by    JOSEPH     CRUK SHANK,    in    Market- ftree*; 
Between  Second  and  Third-ftrcsts,     1778. 


CHRIST  our  Lord,  to  whom  every  knee  muft  bow, 
and  every  tongue  confefs,  either  in  mercy  or  in 
judgment,  came  down  from  his  father's  glory,  took  up- 
on him  our  nature  and  fuffered  death  for  us,  to  reftore 
to  us  that  firft  life  of  meeknefs,  purity  and  love,  that 
being  dead  to  fin,  we  fhould  live  unto  righteoufnefs. 
Leaving  us  an  example,  faith  the  Apoftle,  that  we 
ihould  follow  his  fteps.  He  pofitively  enjoins  us,  to 
love  our  enemies,  to  blefs  them  that  curie  us;  to  do 
good  to  thofe  that  hate  us,  and  pray  for  them  which 
defpitefully  ufe  us  and  perfecute  us.  A  new  command- 
ment, faith  our  bleffed  Saviour,  I  give  unto  you, 
that  ye  love  one  another  as  I  have  loved  you.  The 
meek,  the  merciful  and  the  pure  in  heart  are  by  him 
pronounced  to  be  the  particular  objects  of  divine  re- 
gard. Thefe  are  the  watch  words  of  Chriftianity 
to  all  the  true  followers  of  Chrift. 

On -the  other  hand,  War  requires  of  its  votaries  that 
they  kill,  deftroy,  lay  wafte,  and  to  the  utmoft  of 
their  power  diftrefs  and  annoy,  and  in  every  way  and 
manner  deprive  thofe  they  efteem  their  enemies  of 
fupport  and  comfort.  Now  reader,  confider  the  dif- 
ference; look  at  the  fuffering  and  cMrefs  which 
has,  and  continues  to  defolate  this  once  highly 
favoured  land ;  numbers  of  human  beings,  equally 
with  pur  felves  the  objects  of  redeeming  grace,  are 
daily  hurried  into  eternity,  many,  its  to  be  feared,  in 
an  unprepared  ft  ate ;  and  if  upon  comparing  the  one 
with  the  other  we  feel  compunction,  if  we  are  moved 
with  companion  toward  our  fellow-men,  let  us  cherilh 
this  fenfation;  it  is  a  call  from  the  God  of  Love,  the 
beneficent  father  ot  mankind,  whom  the  Apoftle  de- 
nominates, under  the  appellation  of  love.  God  is 
Love — and  he  that  dwelleth  in  God  dwelleth  in  love 
and  God  in  him.  x 


^3 


THOUGHTS 

ON        THE 

/ 

Nature  of  WAR,   &c/ 


WAR,  confidered  in  itfelf,  is  the  pre- 
meditated and  determined  deflructi- 
on  of  human  beings,  of  creatures  originally 
formed  after  the  image  of  God ,  and  whofe  pre* 
fervation,  for  that  reafon,  is  fecured  by  hea- 
ven itfelf  within  the  fence  of  this  righteous 
law,  that  at  the  hand  of  every  man's  brother, 
the  life  of  man  fball  be  required.  And  though 
this  created  image  of  our  holy  God  muft  be 
owned  to  have  been  ft>  wretchedly  defaced, 
as  to  retain  but  a  very  faint  refemblance  of 
its  divine  original;  yet  as  the  higheft  enforce- 
ment of  that  heavenly  law,  which  was  pub- 
lifhed  for  the  fecurity  of  life,  it  is  mod  gra- 
cioufly  renewed  by  the  incarnation  of  the 
fon  of  God,  and  the  indwelling  of  the  Holy 
Ghoft. 

The  apoftle  James,  chap. 4th,  hath  anfwer- 
ed  the  queftion  with  refpect  to  the  caufe  of 
war,  in  fo  precife  and  determinate  a  manner 
as  to  preclude  all  difficulty  and  doubt  about 
it ;  from  whence  comes  wars  and  fighting  amongfl 
you,  lays  he,  come  they  not  hence^  even  of  your 

lufls, 


(  4  ) 
lufls,  that  war  in  your  members :  Te  kill  and 
defire  to  have,  and  cannot  obtain:  Te  fight  and 
war,  yet  have  not,  becaufe  ye  ajk  amifs,  becauie 
ye  have  no  refpect  to  the  will  of  the  Lord  that 
reigneth,  but  rorfaking  the  Supreme  Good  in 
■whom  alone  your  happinefs  confifls,  ye  fol- 
low an  earthlv  and  deceitful  good,  and  think 
Only  of  procuring  it  by  your  power.  James 
iv,  3.  Te  ajk  and  receive  not,  becaufe  ye  ajk 
amifs,  from  a  fuppofed  refpect  to  the  Lord  that 
reigneth,  but,  too  generally,  for  animal  and 
fenfual  enjoyment,  that  ye  may  confume  it  upon 
your  lufls.  In  this  very  explicit  and  true  ac- 
count, war,  like  ail  other  evils,  is  defcribed 
as  centering  in  itfelf ;  and  the  end  of  it  is 
declared  to  be  gratification  of  thofe  very  ap- 
petites and  paflions,  from  which  it  derives  its 
birth;  for  in  this  unhappy  circle,  which  is 
indeed  the  great  circle  of  the  hiftory  of  man, 
the  fatal  mifchief  proceeds.  War  is  the  infe- 
f  arable  'union  between  the  fenfual  and  malignant 
fajfions  ;  war  prot railed  to  a  certain  period,  ne- 
cejfarily  compels  peace;  peace  revives  and  extends 
trade  and  commerce;  trade  and  commerce  give 
new  life,  vigour,  andfccpe  to  the  fenfual  and  ma- 
lignant pajftons ,  andthefe  naturally  tend  to  gene* 
rate  another  war. 

The  diforders  of  nature  and  of  life  are 
"wholly  the  effects  of  fin,  of  a  voluntary  aver- 
sion and  alienation  from  the  life,  lighc  and 
love  of  God;  in  perfect,  union,  with  which 
perfect  peace  and  happinefs  are  only  to  be 
found;  hence  that  difcordance  of  the  out- 
ward 


(    s    ) 

ward  elements,  which  brings  forth  peftilence, 
famine,  earthquakes,  dorms,  and  tempefts; 
hence,  in  the  corporal  part  of  the  human 
frame,  pain,  ficknefs,  and  death;  in  the 
mental,  fenfuality,  pride,  and  malignity,  in- 
cluding all  the  felfifh  and  wrathful  paffions, 
that  between  individuals,  engender  envy,  ha- 
tred, injury,  relentment,  and  revenge;  and 
between  nations,  a  peculiar  kind  of  enmity 
and  wrong,  that  ilTues  ia  war.  Surrounded 
with  evil  as  men  are,  and  full  of  evil  them- 
ielves,  what  would  become  of  the  whole 
wretched  race,  at  any  given  initant  of  time, 
at  this  very  moment  for  example,  if  the  ef- 
fect of  that  evil  were  not  continually  fufpend- 
ed,  and  directed  by  infinite  power;  fo  as  to 
become  continually  fubfervient  to  the  pur- 
pofes  of  infinite  wifdom,  righteoufnefs,  and 
love. 

It  would  be  needlefs  to  mention  the  nature 
of  that  univerfal  redemption  which  is  pro- 
pofed  by  the  gofpel;  if  in  this  age  of  levity 
we  were  not  fo  apt  to  forget  it.  It  is,  in 
general,  a  full  reftoration  of  the  life  of  God 
in  the  foul;  the  life  of  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Spirit,  which  was  once  the  life  and 
perfection  of  fallen  man,  which  the  Son  of 
God,  the  bruifer  of  the  ferpent,  has  by  his 
fuffering,  been  reftoring,  to  human  nature 
from  the  time  in  which  Adam  fell. 

When  the  Son  of  God  became  incarnate, 

what  was  implied  in  this  red  oration  as  the 

effect  of  its  influence  upon  man,  was  fully 

A  3  evident 


(  6  ) 
evident  from  our  bleffed  Saviour's  doctrine 
and  his  life;  namely,  the  conqueft  and  re- 
nunciation of  the  world,  the  death  of  the 
will,  and  of  all  the  appetites  and  paflions  of 
fallen  animal  nature,  through  faith  in  his 

name not  an  hiftorical  and  fpeculative 

faith,  a  mere  rational  affent  to  the  truth  of 
a  well  attefted  hiftory  of  facts  and  doctrines; 
but  a  full,  ardent,  continual  defire  of  the  life 
cfChrift,  as  begotten  and  formed  in  the  foul, 
by  the  continual  operation  of  the  Holy 
Ghoft.  Thus  what  was  at  firft  the  perfonal 
duties  of  (ingle  chriftians,  when  they  were 
fcattered  over  the  face  of  the  earth,  and 
were  only  parts  of  different  nations,  became 
afterwards  national  duties,  when  whole  nati- 
ons became  chriftians.  If,  therefore,  to  love 
cur  enemy,  to  forgive  him,  to  do  him  good,  and 
fray  for  him;  if  to  overcome  the  world,  whofe 
power  confifts  in  the  lufl  of  theflefb,  the  lufl 
ef  the  eye,  and  the  pride  of  life,  are  chriftian 
perfonal  duties,  if  to  love  the  Lord  our  God, 
*with  all  our  heart,  with  all  our  foul,  with  all 
cur  mind,  and  with  all  cur  ftrength,  and  our 
fellow -creatures  as  ourfelves,  is  the  purity  and 
perfection  of  the  chriftian  perfonal  life,  the 
fame  muft  alfo  be  true  of  a  chriftian  national 
duty;  for  a  chriftian  nation  differs  no  other- 
wife  from  a  chriftian  perfon,  than  as  the 
whole  differs  from  one  of  the  parts  of  which 
it  effentially  confifts. 

It  would  be  needlefs  to  propofe  this  fub- 
ject  to  the  confideration  of   experimental 

chriftians, 


(     7     ) 

chriftians,  who  know  with  certainty,  that 
human  nature  left  to  itfelf,  has  no  power 
but  that  of  producing  mere  evil,  and  that 
every  thing  within  it  and  without  it,  that  is 
either  great  or  good,  is  the  free  gift  of  grace, 
the  unmerited  bounty  of  redeeming  love, 
But  the  true  chriftian  fpirit  being  much  de- 
parted from  the  earth,  true  chriftian  know- 
ledge, as  its  infeparable  companion,  is  de- 
parted with  it,  and  men  feem  to  be  gone 
back  again  to  their  old  animal  life;  and 
tho'  in  fpeculation  and  idea  they  profefs  an 
aflentto  the  truths  of  revelation,  yet  in  heart 
and  practice  they  are  apt  to  confider  the 
courfe  of  all  things  as  connected  only  with 
temporal  good  and  evil,  and  themfelves  as 
the  center  and  circumference,  the  firil  caufe, 
and  the  lafl  end  of  all,  afcribing  to  human 
under  ft  and'mg,  defigns  which  only  infinite  Wifi 
dom  can  form,  and  to  human \  power ,  events  which 
Omnipotence  only  can  produce.  If  the  chriftian, 
however,  recollects  himfelf,  he  will  find  war 
to  be  a  fad  eonfequence  of  the  apoftacy,  and 
fall  of  man,  when  he  was  abandoned,  to  the 
fury  of  his  own  lufts  and  pailions*,  as  the 
natural  and  penal  effects  of  breaking  looie 
from  the  divine  government,  the  fundamen- 
tal law  of  which  is  love;  Thoufhall  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart  9  with  all  thy 
foul,  with  all  thy  mind,  with  all  thyftrength, 
and  thy  fellow-creatures  as  thyfelf. 

The 

*  Wars,   fays  Auguftine,   are  fpeetacles  by  which 
the  devil  cruelly  fports  with  mankind. 


(     8     ) 

The  confequences  of  war,  when  imparti- 
ally examined,  will  be  found  big,  not  only 
•  with  outward  and  temporal  diftrefs,  but  alio 
with  an  evil  that  extends  itfelf  (wherein  the 
darknefs  and  tumult  of  human  paflions,  it  is, 
by  many,  neither  expected  nor  conceived  to 
reach)  even  into  the  regions  of  eternity. 
That  property  is  confounded,  fcattered,  and 
deftroyed ;  that  laws  are  trampled  under 
foot,  government  defpiied,  and  the  ties  of  all 
civil  and  domeiHc  order  broken  into  pieces; 
that  fruitful  countries  are  made  delarts,  and 
flately  cities  a  heap  of  ruins,  that  matrons 
and  virgins  are  violated ;  and  neither  the  in* 
nocence  of  unoffending  infancy,  nor  the  im- 
potence of  decrepit  age,  afford  protection 
from  the  rage  and  thirfl  for  blood;  this  is  but 
the  mortal  progeny  of  this  teeming  womb- 
of  tnifchief;  the  word,  even  the  dreadful 
effect:  it  has  upon  the  immortal  foul,  is  ftill 
behind;  and  tho'  remote  from  thofe  fenfes 
and  paflions  that  are  exercifed  only  by  pre- 
fent  good  and  evil,  mud  yet,  upon  the  lead 
recollection,  imprefs  with  horror  every  mind 
that  believes  there  is  a  righteous  God,  and  a 
ftate  of  retribution,  that  is  to  laft  forever. 
Under  thefe  confiderations,,  what  mull  the 
real  chriftian  feel;  he  who  is  fully  convinced 
that  the  fall  of  man,  is  a  fall  from  meeknefs, 
purity,  and  love,  into  fenfuality,  pride,  and 
wrath;  that  the  Son  of  God  became  incar- 
nate, and  fullered  and  died  to  reftore  that 
firft  life  of  meeknefs,  purity,  and  love;  and 

that 


(    9     ) 
that  for  thefe  ir>  whom   the  reiteration  of 
that  life  is  not  begun,  in  the  prefent  ftate 
the  Son  of  God  incarnate,  it  is  to  be  feared, 
fuffered  and  died  in  vain.     What  muft  he 
feel  for  thole  immortal  fpirits,  who  in  the 
earlieft  dawn  of  their  day  of  purification, 
are  by  hundreds  and  thousands  driven  into 
eternity,   in   the  bitternefs  of  enmity  and 
wrath— —fome  inflamed  with  drunkennefs, 
fome  fired  with  lull;  and  all  flamed  with 
blood?  In  tbofe  direful  conflicts,  which  are 
maintained  with  fo  much  rage,  that  when 
the  vanquished,  at  laft,  retreats  with  the  lofs 
of  twenty  thou/and  human  beings^  the  victor 
finds  he  has  purchafed  fome  little  advantage, 
at  the  expence  of  more  than  half  that  num- 
ber*.    Heaven  and  earth!  what  a  poflibility 
is  here  of  a  facrifice  made  to  the  prince  of 
darkmfsy  the  flrft  and  chief  apoftate,  who  re- 
joices in  beholding  men,  through  the  abufe 

of 

*  SmoIIet,  in  his  Hiftory  of  England,  fpeaking  of 
the  battle  of  Cunerfdorf,  where  the  Pruffians,  attacked 
the  Mufcovites,  in  the  year  1759,  fays,  ««  The  carnage 
*?  was  truly  horrible,  above  twenty  thoufand  Pruflhns 
"  lay  dead  on  the  field.  The  lofs  of  the  Ruffians 
"  amounted  to  tea  thoufand."  He  adds,  '<  That  at  no 
"  time  fince  the  days  of  ignorance  and  barbarity,  have 
tl  the  lives  of  men  been  fquandered  away  with  fuch 
ct  profufion,  as  in  the  eourie  of  this  German  war. 
«•  They  have  not  only  been  unnecefTarily  facrifked» 
•*  in  various  exploits  of  no  confequence,  but  have  been 
"  lavifhly  expofed  to  all  the  rigour  and  diftempers  of 
••  winter  campaigns— in  defpite  of  nature,  and  in  coa- 
ts  tempt  of  humanity." 


(      io     ) 

of  thofe  benefits  which  undeferved  mercy 
has  conferred  upon  them,  transformed  into 
enmity  and  hatFed  of  God  and  their  brethren; 
forfaken  by  God,  and  deftroying  one  ano- 
ther, and  thus  haftening  once  more  into  his 
horrid  fociety ;  that  having  been  accomplices 
in  his  rebellion,  they  may  become  partakers- 
of  his  mifery  and  torment. 

Now  if  the  man  of  valour,  whom  confent- 
ing  nations  have  dignified  with  the  title  of 
hero,  and  the  man  devoted  to  the  world,  are 
afked,  From  whence  this  immortal  mifchief, 
that  may  thus  extend  its  influence  into  the 
regions  of  eternity,  can  proceed,  what  mull 
they  anfwer?  indeed  what  can  they  anfwer, 
but  that  it  is  engendered  by  the  love  of 

human  glory as  vain  a  phantom  as  ever 

played  before  a  mad  man's  eye;  by  the  luft  of 
dominion,  the  avarice  of  wealth,  or  fome 
other  purfuit  that  centers  in  this  prefent 
life.  May  all  thofe  who  are  called  to  be  the 
followers  of  Chrifi  be  preferred  from  thefe 
eatthly,  thefe  fenfual  and  malignant  motives \ 
fo  repugnant  to  the  generous,  companionate 
and  forgiving  temper,  which,  through  the 
influence  of  redeeming  mercy,  is  concomi- 
tant with  the  pure  beams  of  heavenly  light, 
that  light  which  is  intended  to  remove  all 
the  darknefs  of  human  corruption,  and 
transform  felfifli,  fenfual,  proud  fpirits,  into 
angels  of  patience,  humility,  meeknefs,  pu- 
rity and  love ;  the  children,  and  heirs  of  God; 
the  brethren,  and  joint  heirs  of  Chrift*  . 

All 


(  «  ) 

All  external  bleffings,  whether  national  or 
perfonal,  are  curfes,  .when  they  become  the 
fuel  of  the  fenfual  and  malignant  fire  in  cor- 
rupt nature,  when  they  not  only  alienate  the 
mind  from  the  Lord  that  reigneth,  but  mad- 
den it  to  impious  rebellion  and  defiance 
againft  him.  If  ye  will  not  lay  it  to  heart  to 
give  glory  unto  my  name ',  faith  the  Lord  of  Ho/Is , 
/  will  even  fend  a  curfe  upon  your  bleffings. 
Malachi  ii,  2.  From  the  foregoing,  it  is 
evident,  that  Chriflians  can  have  no  intereft 
in  war,  they  cannot  derive  bleffings  from  its 
fuccefs,  nor  triumph  and  exult,  when  to  the 
fhort  lighted  view  of  the  human  mind,  the 
appearance  of  fuccefs  prefents  itfelf;  thefe 
know,  that  the  means  are  infinitely  difpro- 
portionate  to  the  end,  and  our  Redeemer 
himfelf,  in  the  revelation  of  his  future 
judgments,  upon  a  fallen  and  obftinate  evil 
world,  has  declared,  that,  he  that  leadeth 
into  captivity  fhall  go  into  captivity ,  and  he  that 
killeth  with  the  fword,  mujl  be  killed  with  the 
fword.  Rev.  xiii,  10.  Here  is  the  trial  of  the 
faith,  and  patience  of  the  faints,  who  being 
called  to  a  date  of  fufTering,  and  treading  in 
the  footfteps  of  their  great  exampler,  when 
they  are  reviled \  revile  not  again :  IV hen  they 
fuffer,  threaten  not,  but  commit  themfelves  to  tjie 
Lord  that  reigneth  to  him  that  judgeth  right  e^ 
oufly,  Peter  ii,  23.  And  to  this  folemn  de- 
claration of  righteous  judgment;  the  pen- 
man of  that  awful  book,  calls  upon  all  man- 
kind to  attend,  and  fays,  If  any  man  have  an 


C    fr    ) 

ear,  an  ear  that  is  not  totally  deafened  by  the 
tumultuous  paflions  of  nature,  feparated 
from  God,  and  turned  wholly  to  itfelf,  let 
him  now  hear;  let  him  now  repent,  and  for- 
faking  his  own  fenfual  and  malignant  will, 
feek  after  the  God  of  peace  and  love,  and 
live. 

Exsract  from  LAW's   Addrjess   to  ths 
CLERGY. 

THE  temporal  miferies  and  wrong  which 
are  the  fad  effects  of  war,  are  neither,  to  be 

numbered  or  exprefled. What  theivery 

bears  any  proportion  to  that  which  with  the 
boldnefs  of  drum  and  trumpet,  plunders  the 
innocent  of  all  they  have?  and  if  themfelves 
are  left  alive,  with  all  their  limbs,  or  their 
daughters  unravifhed,  they  have  many  times 
only  the  aflies  of  their  confumed  houfes  to 
lye  down  upon.- — What  honour  has  war 
gotten,  from  its  thoufands  and  tens  of  hun- 
dreds of  thoufands  of  men  Slaughtered  on 
heaps,  with  as  little  regret  or  concern  as  at 
loads  of  rubbifh  thrown  into  a  pit. — —Who 

'  but  the  fiery  dragon,  would  put  a  wreath 
of  laurel  on  fuch  heroes  head?  Who  but 
he,  could  fay  unto  them,  Well  done,  good  and 

faithful  ferv ants.  But  there  is  dill  an  evil  of 
war  much  greater,  though  lefs  regarded,  ap- 
parent to  thofe  who  reflect,  how  many  hun- 
dreds of  thoufands  of  men,  born  into  this 
world,  for  no  other  end,  but  that  they  may, 
by  being  born  again  of  Chrift,  from  fons  of 

Adam's 


(  13  ) 
Adam's  raifery,  become  fons  of  God,  and  fellow* 
heirs  with  Chrift>  in  everlafiing  glory,  who 
reflects,  I  fay,  what  namelefs  numbers  of 
thefe  are  robbed  of  God's  precious  gift  of 
life  to  them,  before  they  have  known  the 
one  fole  benefit  of  living,  who  are  not  buf- 
fered to  flay  in  this  world,  till  age  and  ex- 
perience have  helped  them  to  know  the  in- 
ward voice  and  operation  of  God's  fpirit, 
have  helped  them  to  find  and  feel  that  evil, 
curfe,  and  fling  of  fin  and  death,  which  mull 
be  taken  from  within  them,  before  they  can 
die  the  death  of  the  righteous  ;whoinfteadoi  this, 
have  been  either  violently  forced  or  tempted 
in  the  fire  of  youth,  and  full  ftrength  of  fin- 
ful  lufts,  to  forget  God,  eternity,  and  their 
own  fouls,  and  rum  into  a  kill  or  be  killed, 
with  as  much  furious  hafte  and  goodnefs  of 
fpirit,  as  tyger  kills  tyger  for  the  fake  of  his 
prey.  Amongft  unfalien  creatures  in  hea- 
ven, God's  name  and  nature  is  love,  light, 

and  glory to  the  fallen  fons  of  Adam, 

that  which  was  love,  light,  and  glory  in 
heaven,  becomes  infinite  pity  and  compafirofi 
on  earth;  in  a  God,  cloathcd  with  the  na- 
ture of  his  fallen  creature,  bearing  all  its  in- 
firmities, entering  into  all  its  troubles,  and 
in  the  meek  innocence  o^  a  lamb  of  God; 
living  a  life  and  dying  a  death  of  all  fuffer- 
ings  due  to  fin.  Sing!  O  ye  heavens!  and 
fhout  all  ye  lpwer  parts  of  the  earth,  for  this 
is  our  God,  that  varies  not,  whofe  Erik  creat- 
ing love  knows  no  change,  but  into  a  re- 
B  deeming 


(     M    ) 

.deeming  pity  towards  all  his  fallen  creatures. 
Look  now  at  warring  Chriftendom,  what 
fmalleft  drop  of  pity  towards  finners  is  to  be 
found  in  it  ?  or  how  could  a  fpirit,  all  hellifh, 
more  fully  contrive  and  haften  their  deftruc- 
tion;  it  flirs  up  and  kindles  every  paffion  of 
fallen  nature,  that  is  contrary  to  the  all- 
humble,  all- meek,  all  loving,  all-forgiving, 

all-faving  fpirit  of  Chrift it   unites,   it 

drives,  and  compels  namelefs  numbers  of  un- 
converted finners  to  fall  murderingand  mur- 
dered, amongft  flafhes  of  fire,  with  the  wrath 
and  fwiftnefs  of  lightning,  into  a  fire  infi- 
nitely worfe  than  that  in  which  they  died — 
O  fad  fubject  for  thankfgiving  days,  whether 
in  popifh  or  pioteftant  churches ;  for  if  there 
is  ?l  joy  of  all  the  angels  in  heaven  for  one/inner 
that  repent eth,  what  a  joy  muft  there  be  in 
hell,  over  fuch  multitudes  of  finners,  not 
liiffered  to  repent?  And  if  they  who  have 
converted  many  to  righteoufnefs,  fhallfh\ne  as  the 
Jlars  in  the  firmament  forever ',  what  Chorazin 
woe  may  they  not  juftly  fear,  whofe  proud 
wrath,  and  vain  glory,  have  robbed  fuch 
jiumberlefs  troops  of  poor  wretches,  of  all 
time  and  place  of  knowing  what  righteouf- 
nefs  they  wanted,  for  the  falvation  of  their 
immortal  fouls*.  Here  my  pen  trembles  in 
jny  hand — But  when,OI  when  will  one  fingle 

chriftian 
*  Mod  lamentable  was  the  calamity,  or  rather  griev- 
ous judgment,  which  hefel  the  Englifh  State,  by  means 
of  the  inteftine  wars  which  prevailed  between  the  two 
Houfes  of  York  and  Lancafter,  ia  fupport  of  their  claim 


to 


(     H     ) 
chriftian  church,  people,  or  language,  trem- 
ble at  the  {hare  they  have  in  this  death  of 

finners Again,  would  you  further  Teethe 

fall  of  the  univerfal  church,  from  being  led 
by  the  Spirit  of  Chrift,  to  be  guided  by  the 
infpiration  of  the  great  fiery  'dragon,  look 
at  all  European  Chriitendom  failing  round 
the  globe,  with  fire  and  fword,  and  every 
murdering  art  of  war,  to  feize  the  pofteflions* 
and  ileal  or  kill  the  inhabitants  of  Africa  and 

the  Indies. What  natural  right  of  man, 

what  fupernatural  virtue,  which  Chrift  bro'c 
down  from  heaven,  is  not  here  trodden  un- 
d^e'r  foot? all  that  you  ever  read  or  bear- 
ed of  heathen  barbarity,  was  here  outdone 
by  chriftian  conquerors.  What  wars  of 
chriftians  againft  chriftians,  blended  with 
fcalping  heathens,  have  ftained  the  earth  and 
the  feas  with  human  blood,  for  a  miferable 
fhare  in  the  fpoils  of  a  plundered  heathen 
world;  a  world  which  mould  have  heard, 
or  feen,  or  felt  nothing  from  the  followers 
of  Chrift,  but  a  divine  love,  that  had  forced 

them 

to  the  crown.  We  are  told  in  Hiftory,  That  above 
one  hundred  thoufand  men  perifhed  in  ine  feveral  con- 
flicts, which  enfued  on  that  debate,  with  great  numbers 
of  the  principal  men  of  the  nation,  amongft  whom  were 
more  than  fifty  ot  the  royal  blood,  who  laid  down  their 
lives  either  in  b,attle,  or  by  the  hands  of  the  public  ex- 
ecutioner. And  here  an  awful  confiderarion  occurs — • 
What  did  either  party  obtain  by  this  lamentable  devas- 
tation and  deftruction  of  their  fellow  creatures,  their 
countrymen,  their  brethren,  called  to  be  heirs  of  the 
fame  falvation. 


(  1*  ) 

them  from  diftant  lands,  a»nd  through  the 
perils  of  long  feas,  to  vifit  Grangers,  with 
thofe  glad  tidings  of  peace  and  fafvation,  to 
all  the  world,  which  angels  from  heaven, 
and  ihepherds  on  earth,  proclaimed  at  the 
birth  of  Chriil* 

But  to  know  whe  her  chriftianity  admits 
of  war,  chriftianity  is  to  be  conftdered  as  in 
its  right  ftate;  now  the  true  ftate  of  the 
world,  turned  chriftian,  is  thus  defcribed  by 
the  great  Gofpel-prophet,  who  fhewed  what 
a  change  it  was  to  make  in  the  fallen  ftate 

of 

#  It  is  frequently  urged  in  favour  of  war,  that  our 
Saviour  near  the  time  of  his  paflion,  gave  directions  to* 
his  difciples  to  take  their  fwords.  The  pafTage  is  as 
follows,  Luke  xxii,  35.  «'  When  I  fent  you  without 
purfe,  or  fcrip,  lacked  ye  any  thing?  and  they  faid, 
Nothing.  Then  he  faid  into  them,  But  now  he  that 
hath  a  purfe,  let  him  take  it,  and  likewife  his  fcrip ; 
and  he  that  hath  no  fword  let  him  fell  his  garment, 
and  buy  one.  And  they  faid,  Lord,  behold  here  are 
two  fwords.  And  he  faid  unto  them,  It  is  enough." 
Now  from  what  follows  in  the  context,  it  appears  this 
paiTage  ought  not  to  be  taken  literally,  but  rather  as 
;.bme  annoters  fay,  to  be  underftood  as  an  emblem  of 
the  dangerous  fituatlon  they  were  in,  as  we  find  at  Mat. 
;:xvi,  §  1 .  "  And  behold,  one  of  them  which  were  with 
Jefus,  ftretched  out  his  hand,  and  drew  his  fword,  and 
ilruck  a  fervant  of  the  high  prieft,  and  fmoteoffhis  ear. 
Then  faid  jeius  unto  him,  Put  up  again  thy  fword  into 
liis  place;  for  all  they  that  take  the  {word,  (hall  perifn 
with  the  fword."  This  agrees  wi  h  the  anfwer  made 
liy  our  Saviour  to  Pilate.  John  xviii,  36.  "  My  king- 
dom is  not  of  this  world.  If  my  kingdom  were  of  this 
world,  then  would  my  fervants  fight;  that  I  fhould 
not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews;  but  now  is  my  kingdom 
aot  from  hence. 


(  *7  ) 
of  the  world;  It  Jhall  come  to  pafs,  in  the  lafh 
day.*,  that  the  mountain  of the  Lord's  houfe  Jhall 
be  ejlablifhed  in  the  top  of  the  mountains,  and 
all  nations  Jhall  flow  into  it,  and  many  people 
Jhall  Jay,  Let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of  the 
Lord's  houfe.  and  he  will  teach  us  of  his  ways, 
and  we  will  walk  in  his  paths,  Ifa.  ii,  2 .  Now 
what  follows  from  this  going  up  of  the  na- 
tions to  the  mountain  of  the  Lord's  houfe, 
the  holy  prophet  exprefly  tells  you  in  the 
following  words:  They  jhall  beat  their  fwords 
into  plow-Jhares,  and  their  Jpears  into  pruning' 
hooks  ;  nation  fhall  not  lift  up  its  fword  againjl 
nation,  tj-neit her  Jhall  they  learn  war  any  more* 
Ifa.  ii,  4.  Mic.  iv,  g.  This  is  the  prophet's 
true  Chriftendom,  with  one  and  the  fame 
eflential  divine  mark  fet  upon  it;  as  when  the 
Lamb  of  God  faid,  By  this  Jhall  all  men  know, 
that  ye  are  my  difciples,  if  ye  love  one  another ; 
as  I  have  loved  you,  John  xiii,  34.  Chrift's 
kingdom  is  no  where  come,  but  where  the 
works  of  the  devil  are  deilroyed,  and  men 
are  turned  from  the  power  of  fatan  unto 

God God  is  only  another  name  for  the 

highefl  and  only  good,  and  the  highefl  and 
only  good  means  nothing  elfe  but  love,  with 
all  its  works.  Would  you  farther  fee  when 
and  where  the  kingdoms  of  this  fallen  world 
are  become  a  kingdom  of  God,  the  Gofpel- 
prophet  tells  you,  that  it  is  then  and  there 
where  all  enmity  ceafeth.  The  wolf,  faith  he, 
Jhall  dwell  with  the  lamb,  and  the  leopard  Jhall 
lye  d&wn  with  the  kid;  the  calf  and  the  young 
B  3  lion. 


(     18     ) 

lion,  and  the  fatling  together,  and  a  little  child 
Jhall  lead  them.  The  cow  and  the  bear  Jhall  J<ed, 
and  their  young  ones  Jhall  lye  down  together;  and 
the  lion  Jhall  eat  Jtraw  like  the  ox.  Thejucking 
child  fljall  play  on  the  hole  oj  the  ajp,  and  the 
weaned  child  pall  put  his  hand  on  the  cockatrice- 
den Jor  they  Jhall  not  hurt  and  deftroy  in 

all  my  holy  mountain,  Ifa.  xi,  6.  See  here  a 
kingdom  of  God  on  the  earth;  it  is  nothing 
elfe  but  a  kingdom  of  meer  love,  where  all 
hurt  and  deflroying  is  done  away,  and  every 
work  of  enmity  changed  into  one  united 
power  of  heavenly  love — but  obferve  again 
and  again,  whence  this  comes  to  pafs,  that 
God's  kingdom  on  earth  is,  and  can  be  no- 
thing e\£e,  but  the  power  of  reigning  love; 
the  prophet  tells  us,  it  is  becaufe  in  the  days 
of  his  kingdom  the  earth  Jhall  be  Jull  oj  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the 
fia." 

Hence  we  are  enjoined,  by  our  bieffed 
Saviour,  to  pray  for,  and  continually  to 
'watch  over  every  fuggeftion  of  our  corrupt 
minds,  which  may  impede  the  accomplish- 
ment of  thefe  gracious  promifes :  Thy  kingdom 
tome,  Thy  will  be  done  in  earth,  as  it  is  done  in 
heaven.  The  frequent  accounts  we  meet  with 
in  the  Old  Teftament,  of  wars  being  carried 
on  in  the  time  of  the  law,  gives  no  fancuon 
to.  the  fame  practice  under  the  gofpel;  as  this 
lad  difpenfation  is  a  wonderous  difplay  of  di- 
vine benignity  and  love,  pronouncing  thofe 
only  bkfied,  who  are  found  in  the  actual 

poffeffioa 


(  m  ) 

pofTefllon  of  that  poverty  of  fpirit,  that  meek* 
nefs  and  purity  of  heart,  which  was  pointed 
out  in  types  and  ceremonies,  under  the  law  j 
hence  the  gofpel  difpenfation  is  declared  to 
be  the  bringing  in  of  a  better  hope,  by  which  iv&- 
draw  nigh  unto  God,  Heb.  vii,  19. 

We  are  chriftians,  not  Jews,  and  are  there- 
fore required  to  attend  to  the  inftruction  and 
practice  of  our  great  and  good  example^ 
Jefus  Chrift,  who  was  declared  from  heaven 
to  be  the  beloved  Son  of  God  \  and  whole  ap- 
pearance on  earth  was  uihered  in  by  the  an- 
gels and  heavenly  host,  with  a  pubikatioa 
of  peace  on  earth,  and  good  will  towards  men. 
The  prophecies  which  pi  eceded  our  Saviour's 
coming,  clearly  pointed  to  the  greater  ex- 
cellency of  the  difpenfation,  which  was  to 
take  place  when  He,  the  peaceable  Shiloh,  the. 
defire  of  nations  fbould  come,  unto  whom  the 
gathering  of  the  people  was  to  be,  Hag.  ii,  7. 

The  primitive  chriftians  bore  a  teftimony 
to  the  inconfiftency  of  war  with  the  gofpeh 
Robert  Barclay,  in  his  Apology,  fays,  f  That 
"  this  was  the  judgment  of  mod  (if  not  all) 
"  the  ancient  fathers, (fo called)  the  firft  three 
"  hundred  years  after  Chrift.  They  affirm- 
u  ed  the  prophecies  of  Ijaiah  and  Micah,  re» 
"  fpecling  the  peaceable  reign  of  the  Mem*  ah, 
"  to  be  fulfilled  in  the  chriftians  of  their 
*'  time."*  Many  of  the  Reformers  favoured 

the 

*  Origen  (who  wrote  in  the  beginning  of  the  third 
century)  confirms  this  in  his  anfwer  to  Celfus,  a  mod 

wruient 


(       20       ) 

the  fame  fentiment,  particularly  John  Wick- 
lhT;  the  firft  eminent  inftrument  raifed  in 
oppofition  to  the  errors  and  corruptions 
then  prevalent  in  the  world;  of  whom  we 
are  told  in  the  account  of  his  life,*  "  That 
"  he  thought  the  whole  trade  of  war  was 
"  finful." 

We  find  by  the  accounts  we  meet  with  in 
John  Fox's  A6ts  and  Monuments  of  the  Church, 
that  the  fame  tefiimony  againft  war  was 
maintained  amongft  the  followers  of  Wick- 
liff.  This  appears  more  particularly,  from  a 
representation,  called  Conclufions  and  Reforma- 
tions, laid  before  the  parliament,  by  thofe 
firft  Reformers,  the  17th  of  Richard  the  lid, 
in  the  year  1  395,  as  mentioned  vol.  I.  p,  579. 
It  farther  appears  from  what  John  Fox  calls, 
"  The  godly  Declaration  of  Walter  Brute;" 
of  whofe  fufferings  for  the  truth,  he  gives 
us  a  large  account,  at  page  555*  An  extract 
of  the  laid  Walter's  expreffions,  on  that 
head,  are  as  follows,  viz. 

"  I  marvel  why  wife  men,  leaving  the 
"  plain  and  manifeft  doctrine  of  Chrift, 
cc  whereby  he  teacheth  patience,  do  feek  cor- 
"  ners  of  their  own  imagining,  to  the  intent 
*{  they   may  approve   fightings  and  wars; 

"  why 

virulent  adver/ary,  who  had  charged  the  chriftiafts 
with  refufmg  to  bear  arms,  and  to  enter  into  military 
employment.  Origine  contra  Celfum,  lib.  8.  p.  426, 
Cantab,  editio. 

*  Life  of  John  Wickliff,  &c.  by  W.  Gilpin. 


(       21       ) 

<l  why  mark  they  not  after  what  manner 
<£  Chrift  fpake  to  Peter,  finking  the  high 
"  bifhop's  fervant,  faying,  Put  up  the  Jword 
"  into  thejbeath;  for  every  one  that  Jball  take 
*•*  the  /word,  [hall  per -ijh  with  the  [word." 

Again ;  "  the  apoftle  writing  to  the  Corin- 
"  thians,  as  touching  judgment  and  conten- 
"  tion,  which  are  matter  of  lefs  weight  than 
"  are  fightings ;  he  writeth,  Now  verily  there 
"  is  great  fault  in  you,  that  ye  be  at  law 
"  amongft  yourfelves;  why  rather  take  ye 
"  not  wrong?  why  rather  fufFer  yenotde- 
"  ceit.  And  that  apoftle  generally  in  all  his 
"  epiftles,  teacheth,  that  patience  fhould  be 
"  kept,  and  not  corporal  refinance  by  fight- 
"  ings,  becaufe  charity  is  patient,  it  is  conr- 
"  teous,  it  fuffereth  all  things.  I  marvel  how 
"  they  juftify,  and  make  good  the  wars  by 
"  chriftians.  laving  only  the  wars  againft  the 
"  devil  and  fin.  For  feeing  that  it  is  plain, 
"  that  thofe  things*  which  were  in  the  Old* 
cc  Teftament,  were  figures  of  things  to  be 
"  done  in  the  New  Teftament-,  therefore  we 
"  mufl  needs  fay,  that  corporal  wars  being 
"  then  done,  were  figures  of  the  chriflian 
"  wars  againft  fin  and  the  devil,  for  the 
"  heavenly  country,  which  is  our  inheri- 
*  tanee."  * 

In 

*  Wicklift  thought  all  arts  which  adminiftered  to  the 
luxuries  of  life,  were  prohibited  by  the  gofpel  The 
fcripture,  he  faid,  tells  us,  that  having  food  a7zd  raiment , 
we  Jhould  be  therewith  content,     Beiiiner,   tho'  a  popifh 

writer. 


(  »  )  . 

In  the  times  which  preceded  our  Saviour's 
appearance  on  earth,  "  every  battle  of  the 
"  warrior  was  with  confufed  noife,  and  gar-  ' 
"  rnents  rolled  in  blood;"  but  the  warfare 
which  was  to  be  introduced  by  Him,  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  of  the  increafe  of  whofe 
government  there  is  to  be  no  end,  was  to 
be  "  with  burning  and  fuel  of  tire,"  *  Ifaiah 
ix,  5.  to  the  deftruction  of  the  man  of  fin, 
the  corrupt  propenfity  of  nature,  and  efta- 
blifhment  of  that  purity  of  heart  and  uni- 
verfal  love,  which  the  gofpel  propofes. 

The  apoftle  tells  the  believers,  Eph.  vi,  12. 
"  That  they  warred  not  after  the  flefh." 

2  Cor. 

writer,  gives  a  very  favourable  account  of  WilcklifPs 
difciples.  He  fays  theys  they  were  men  of  a  ferious, 
modeft  deportment,  avoiding  all  oftentation  in  drefs; 
chafte  and  temperate;  never  feen  in  taverns,  or  amufed 

by  the  trifling  gaieties  of  life that  they  utterly  de- 

fpifed  wealth,  being  fully  content  with  bare  necefia- 
ries.f —  -Hence  it  appears  that  thefe  firft  Reformers, 
as  well  as  the  primitive  chriftians,  took  our  Saviour's,, 
injunction,  Mat.  vi,  19.  Lay  not  up  for  yourf elves  treafure? 
upon  earthy  in  a  more  literal  fenfe  than  it  has  been  un- 
derftood  by  many  high  profeffors  in  more  later  days. 
They  were  fenfible  of  the  truth  of  his  declaration, 
Mark  x,  23.  That  it  would  be  hard  for  thofe  that  had  ac- 
cumulated riches,  had  added  houfe  to  houfe  and  field  to 
field,   to  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

*  This  expreffion,  Of  the  increafe  of 'whofe  government , 
there  is  to  be  no  end,  appears  to  point  out,  that  the  pre- 
valency  of  the  fuffering  fpirit  of  the  gofpel  in  the  world, 
is  to  be  a  gradual  work,  which  will  be  brought  about 
under  fuffering  to  the  followers  of  Chrift,  as  it  was  to- 
their  Mafter,  who  nvas  made  perfett  through  fuffering. 
f  Gilpein's  life  of  Wickliff. 


(  n  ) 

2  Cor.  x,  4.  "  That  the  weapons  of  their  war- 
"  fare  were  not  carnal,  but  mighty  through 
"  God,  to  the  puliing  down  the  ftrong  holds, 
"  catting  down  every  imagination,  and  high 
"  thing  which  exalteth  itfelf  againfr.  the 
"  knowledge  of  God,  and  bringing  into  cap- 
.u  tivity  every  thought  to  the  obedience  of 
"  Chrift."  It  was  by  meeknefs  and  patient 
fuffering,  that  our  Saviour  overcame  and 
gave  a  deadly  blow  to  fin;  leaving  us  an  ex- 
ample that  we  mould  follow  his  footfteps. 
"  Learn  of  me,"  fays  this  blefTed  Redeemer, 
"  for  I  am  meek  and  low,  and  ye  fhall  find 
"  reft  to  your  fouls.  BlefTed  are  the  meek, 
"  the  merciful,  and  thofe  who  hunger  and 
"  thirft  after  righteoufnefs,"  (with  this  blef- 
fed  promife)  "  for  they  lhall  be  filled.  Blef- 
<c  fed  are  the  peace-makers,  for  they  fhall  be 
"  called  the  children  of  God,"  Mat.  v. 
And  to  his  difciples,  when  he  fent  them  to 
preach  the  Gofpel,  he  fays,  "  Behold  I  fend 
"  you  as  lambs  amongft  wolves."  The  evan- 
gelick  prophet  had  a  clear  profpecr,  of  the 
abafement  and  fufFerings  of  our  Saviour, 
when  he  fays,  "  He  was  oppreffed  and  af- 
"  flicted,  yet  he  opened  not  his  mouth;  he 
"  is  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  flaughter,  and 
"  as  a  fheep  before  her  fhearers  is  dumb,  fo 
"  he  opened  not  his  mouth,"  If  a.  liii,  7. 

The  efficacy  of  this  fuffering  fpirit  of  Chrift 
was  contrary  to  the  natural  will,  and  a  myf- 
tery  to  the  reafoning  part  in  man;  "  it  was 
"  to  the  Jews  a  ftumbling-block,  and  to  the 

"  Greeks, 


(    M    ) 
cc  Greeks,  foolifhnefs;"  and  fill!  remains  a 
myftery  to  the  "  wifdom   of  the  world," 
i  Cor.  i,  22. 

Our  Saviour  himfelf,  in  the  courfe  of  his 
precepts,  clearly  diftinguifhed  the  greater, 
purity  of  the  doctrine  he  was  about  to  efta- 
blifli,  from  the  imperfectnefs  of  that  prac- 
tifed  in  the  former  difpenfations;  Mat.  v. 
"  Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  faid  to 

"  them  of  old  times  an  eye  for  an  eye, 

"  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth,  but  I  fay  unto 
"  you,  that  ye  refifl  not  evil."  Again: 
"  Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  faid, 
"  thou  fhail  love  thy  neighbour,  and  hate 
"  thine  enemy,  but  I  fay  unto  you,  love 
"  your  enemies,*  bltfs  them  that  curfeyou, 
46  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray* 
"  for  them  which  defpitefully  ufe  you  and 
u  perfecute  you,  that  ye  may  be  the  children 
"■  of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven, "f 

Hence  we  have  reafon  to  believe,  that  the 
injunction  and  allowance  granted  to  the 
Jews,  of  making  war  upon  their  enemies, and 
one  upon  another;  was  inconfequeaceof  that 
hardnefs  of  heart,  which  prevailed  amongii; 
them;  and  that  this  permiflion  was  granted 

from 

#  It  is  certainly  as  eafy  to  reconcile  the  greateft  con- 
tradiction as  thefe  declarations  of  our  Lord's  with  the 
pr a  dice  of  war,r<?/£/?  not  evil,  with  dijlrefs  and a?inoy  thofe 
we  are  contending  with;  love  your  enemies  with  contrive 
every  method  tofpoil,  to  make  a  prey  cf,  and  purfue  them  nvitb 
fire  and  fword. 

\  A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  that  ye 
love  one  another  as  I  have  loved  you,  Job.  xiii,  34. 


(      *5      ) 

from  the  fame  motive,  as  that  mentioned  by 
oar  Lord,  when  the  Jews  were  pleading  the 
licence  given  them  by  Mofes,  to  put  away 
their  wives,  and  marry  other  women:  Mark 
x,  5.  "  For  the  hardnefs  of  your  hearts, 
"  Mofes  wrote  you  this  precept ;  but  from 
"  the  beginning  of  the  creation  God  made 

"  them  male  and  female what  therefore 

*  God  hath  joined  together,  let  no  man  put 
"  afimder."  This,  as  well  as  war,  flavery, 
an  other  practices  of  the  like  nature,  were 
a  violence  upon  that  union,  purity,  and  bro- 
therly love,  which  fubfilled  in  the  beginning, 
in  the  original  conftitution  of  things,  whilifc 
man  retained  his  primitive  innocency.  And 
that  the  fpihing  of  human  blood  was  not  ac- 
ceptable in  the  eyes  of  perfect  Purity,  who 
the  apoftle  denominates  under  the  appella- 
tion of  love,  God  is  Love^  appears  from  the 
prohibition  laid  upon  king  David,  not  to 
build  an  houfe  unto  God,  on  account  of  his 
having  been  concerned  in  the  deftruclion  of 
fo  many  of  his  fellow  creatures,  as  himfelf 
declared,  1  Q&rott..  xfxii,  8.  Ci  The  word  of 
"  the  Lord  came  to  me,  faying.  Thou  haft 
"  fhed  bloodabundantly,and  hail  madegreat 
64  wars;  thou  Ihalt  not  build  an  houfe  unto 
ct  my  name,  becaufe  thou  hail  med  much 
"  blood  upon  the  earth  in  my  fight," 

That  pious,  learned  man,  bifhop  Taylor, 
chaplain  to  king  Charles  the  Ift,  in  his  de- 
dication to  his  Di/cour/e  on  the  liberty  of  Pro- 
phefyingt  printed  in  London,  1702J  appears 
C  to 


(  ^  ) 

to  have  had  a  clear  profpect  of  what  muft  j 
be  the  genuine  efFecr.  of  the  doctrine  and  ' 
power,  which  our  bleffed  Saviour  came  to  ■ 
communicate  to  mankind,  even  that  inex- 
preflible  love,  which  breathing  peace  and 
goodwill  to  every  individual,  knows  of  no 
enemy;  but,  in  Jefus  Chrift,  embraces  with 
brotherly  affeclion,  the  whole  creation.  He 
expreffes  himfelf  as  follows  at  page  3,  &c. 
u  As  contrary  as  cruelty  is  to  mercy,  tyran- 
*'  ny  to  charity;  fo  is  war  and  bloodfhed, 
"  to  the  meeknefs  and  gentlenefs  of  the  chi  i- 
€c  ftian  religion.  I  had  thought,  fays  he,  of 
"  the  prophecy,  That  under  the  gofpel,  our 
*c  fwords  mould  be  turned  into  plowmares, 
cc  and  our  fpears  into  pruning-hooks :  I 
e<  knew  that  no  tittle  fpgken  by  God's  Spi- 
iC  rit,  mould  return  unperformed  and  inef- 
"  feclual;  and  I  was  certain,  that  fuch  was 
"  the  excellency  of  Chrift's  doctrine,  that  if 
"  men  would  obey  it,  chriftians  mould  never 
*c  war  one  aganft  another." 


Observations 


OBSERVATIONS 


O  N 


SLAVERY. 


THE  Slavery  which  now  fo  largely  fub- 
fifts  in  the  American  Colonies,  is  ano- 
ther mighty  evil,  which  proceeds  from  the 
fame  corrupt  root  as  War;  for,  however, 
it  may  he  granted  thatfome,  otherwife,  well 
difpofed  people  in  different  places,  particu- 
larly in  thefe  provinces,  at  firil  fell  into  the 
practice  of  buying  and  keeping  Slaves,  thro' 
inadvertency,  or  by  the  example  of  others;- 
yet  in  the  generality  it  fprang  from  an  un- 
warrantable defire  of  gain,  a  luff,  for  amaf- 
fing  wealth,  and  in  the  pride  of  their  heart, 
holding  an  uncontroulable  power  over  theis? 
fellow-men.  The  obfervation  which  the 
Apoftle  makes  on  War,  may  well  be  applied 
to  thofe  who  compelled  their  fellow-men  to 
become  their  flaves,  they  lufted,  for  wealth 
and  power  and  dejired  to  have,  that  they  might 
con/urns  it  upon  their  luffs* 

It 


<  *8  ) 
It  is  a  very  afflictive  confederation,  that  J 
aoCwitManding  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
mankind  have  been  ib  much  the  object  of  * 
pubiick  notice,  yet  the  fame  corrupt  prin- 
ciples tiill  maintain  their  power  in  the  minds 
of  moft  Slave  Holders.  Indeed  nothing  can 
moie  clearly  and  poflitively  militate  againft 
the  flavei  y  of  the  Negroes,  than  the  leveral 
declarations  lately  publifhed,  with  fo  great 
an  appearance  of  folemnity,  thro'  all  the  co- 
lonies, viz.  "  We  hold  thefe  truths  to  be  felf 
<e  evident,  that  all  men  are  created  equal, 
"  that  they  are  endowed  by  their  crea- 
c?  tor  with  Certain  unalienable  rights;  that 
**  among  thefe  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pur- 
fct  fuit  of  happinefs."  And  "  That  all  men  are 
"  by  nature  equally  free  and  independent, 
*4  and  have  certain  inherent  rights,  of  which 
•;  when  they  enter  into  a  ftate  of  fociety  they 
ci  cannot  by  any  compact,  deprive  or  divert 
"  their  property,  namely  the  enjoymeat  of 
6C  life  and  liberty,  with  the  means  of  acquiring 
*c  and  pofleiling  property,  and  purfuing  and 
*c  obtaining  happinefs  and  fafety."  That 
after  thefe,  and  other  declarations  of  the  fame 
kind,  have  been  {o  publickly  made  to  the 
world,  Slavery  "fhould  continue  in  its  full 
force  in  the  Colonies;  and  even  in  fome  ca- 
fes,its  bands  fhould,  by  Law,  be  farther  eftab- 
iifhed,*  is  a  great  aggravation  of  that  guilt 

which 


*  By  a  Law  of   the  Province  of  North- Carolina* 

Mav  myj.     All  Slaves  who  have  been  fet  free,  except 

'     '  by 


C.*9       ) 

which  has  fo  long  lain  upon  America;  and 
which  together  with  the  blood  of  the  Native 
Indians,  fo  daringly  fpilt,  f  is  likely  to  be 
one  of  the  prinpcial  caufes  of  thofe  heavy 
judgments,  which  are  now  fo  fenfibly  dis- 
played over  the  Colonies.  Perhaps  nothing 
will  fo  fenfibly  teach  us  to  feel  for  the  afflic- 
tion of  the  opprefTed  Africans,  as  that  our- 
felves  partake  of  the  fame  cup  of  diftrefs,  we 
have  fo  long  been  inftrumental  in  caufing 
them  to  drink.  If  we  look  back  to  early 
times,  and  bring  to  our  remembrance  what 
we  ha\^  heard  from  our  fathers,  relating 
to  the  firfl  introduction  of  Negroes  amongft 
us,  we  mail  have  reafon  to  conclude,  that 
there  were  but  few  of  thofe  concerned  in 
thofe  purchafes,  who  were  not  in  fome 
meafure  acquainted  with  the  dreadful  cala- 
mities introduced  in  Guinea,  in  order  to 
procure  Slaves  for  the  American  Market. 
They  had  doubtlefs  heard  fomething  of 
thefe  accounts;  they  faw  their  afflicted  fel- 
low-men, after  being  by  the  ravages  of  war 
deprived  of  all  property,  and  cruelly  rent 
C  3  from 

by  licenfe  firft  obtained  from  the  County  court,  for 
what  faid  court  lhall  judge  to  be  a  meritorious  iervice, 
fhall  be  feized  and  fold  by  the  fheriff  to  the  higheft 
bidder. 

f  Many  of  the  Indians  in  this  and  the  neighbouring 
provinces  have  at  different  time  been  treacheroufly  and 
cruelly  murdered,  particularly  in  the  town  of  Lan- 
caster and  the  neighbouring  mannor  of  which  little 
judicial  inquiry  has  been  made,  in  order  to  bring  the 
murderers  to  juftice. 


<  30  ) 
from  every  tender  connexion  in  their  native 
land,  brought  to  America,  and  there  fold 
like  beafts  for  burden  or  flaughter;  yet  we 
have  too  much  reafon  to  conclude  that  but 
little  fympathy  was  extended  to  them,  few, 
very  few,  even  amongft  profefTors,  endea- 
voured, on  their  behalf,  "  To  fee k  judgment, 
€t  to  relieve  the  opprejfed;  to  plead  for  the  J  at  her- 
cc  leys,  and  to  judge  for  the  widow  \  few  mourned 
<c  with  thofe  that  mourned;"  people  faw  their 
affliction  and  h eared  the  doleful  ftory  of 
their  particular  cafes  with  little  or  no  fellow 
feeling,  indifferency  prevailed ;  there  was 
too  much  of  a  joining  infpirit  with  thofe  who 
<c  hadflain  with  the /word,  and  had  carried  info 
*c  captivity"  arifing  from  a  fecret  fatisfac- 
tion,  at  the  profpect  of  having  an  opportuni- 
ty, thro'  the  Slaves  labour,  of  encreaflng 
their  fubftance,  and  amaffing  much  wealth, 
In  the  acquirement  and  poffeflion  of  which, 
a  proper  regard  not  being  had,  "  to  the  will 
*£  of  the  Lord  that  reigneth"  there  has  been 
fent  a  curfe  upon  what  they  efleemed  a  blef- 
Jing;  their  riches  have  proved  as  wings  to 
xaife  their  children  above  truth  and  real  hap- 
pinefs:  The  offspring  of  many  of  thefe  are 
ilill  living  in  idlenefs  and  pride;  whilft  other's 
are  noting  in  diffipation  and  luxury.  If  the 
good  and  juft  father  of  mankind  is  now 
arifen  to  plead  the  caufe  of  the  opprefTed 
Africans,  and  to  bring  the  matter  home  to 
ourfelves;  who  can  fay,  what  doeft  thou. 
Will  not  the  Americans,  amongft  whom  the 

efiablifhment 


(    3»    ) 

eftablifhment  of  religious  as  well  as  civil 
liberty  is  the  prefent  and  great  object  of  con- 
fideration  and  debate,  be  a  witnefs  againfl 
themfelves,  fo  long  as  they  continue  to 
keep  their  Fellow-Inhabitants  in  fuch  griev- 
ous circumftances,  whereby  they  are  not 
only  deprived  of  their  liberty,  but  of  all 
property  and  indeed  of  every  right  what- 
soever? 

From  the  experience  of  others,  we  may 
deduce  a  proper  application  to  ourfelvest 
We  read  Jerm.  xxxiv,  8.  that  the  Jewifh 
people,  a  little  before  the  Babylonian  Capti- 
vity, acknowledged  the  duty  which  lay 
upon  them,  of  proclaiming  liberty  to  thole 
of  their  brethren  who  had  been  forceablv 

4 

kept  in-fervitude,  beyond  the  term  limited 
by  the  Molaic  Law ;  for  the  performance  of 
'which  they  had  made  a  covenant  before  the 
Lord;  but  upon  the  danger  appearing  to  be 
over,  by  the  retreat  of  the  king  of  Babylon, 
they  caufed  the  fervants  and  hand-maids 
whom  they  had  let  go  tree,  to  return,  and 
brought  them  again  into  fubjection.  Where- 
upon the  prophet  pronounces  the  judgment, 
threatned  by  the  Lord,  againft  thofe  who  had 
thus  falfi'fied  their  covenant,  Chap,  xxxiv, 
ii.  "Ye  have  made  a  covenant  before  me, 
"  but  ye  turned  and  polluted  my  name, 
"  and  caufed  every  man  his  fervant,  and 
"  every  man  his  hand-maid — to  return  and 
"  brought  them  into  fubjeclion."  There- 
fore, thus  faith  the  Lord,  ".Ye  have  not 
I  hearkned 


(  3*  ) 
Ci  hearkned  unto  me,  in  proclaiming  liberty 
«'  every  one  to  his  brother,  and  every  man 
"  to  his  neighbour;  behold  I  proclaim  a  li- 
*c  berty  for  you,  faith  the  Lord,  to  the  fvvord 
"  the  peftilence  and  the  famine.'* 

Here  it  may  not  be  neceffary  to  repeat 
what  has  been  fo  fully  declared  in  feveral 
modern  publications,  of  the  inconflftence  of 
flavery  with  every  right  of  mankind,  with 
every  feeling  of  humanity,  and  every  pre- 
cept of  Chriitianity;  nor  to  point  out  its  in* 
confiftency  with  the  welfare,  peace  and  pro- 
fperity  of  every  country,  in  proportion  as 
it  prevails;  what  grievous  fufferings  it  brings 
on  the  poor  Negroes;  but  more  efpecially 
what  a  train  of  fatal  vices  it  produces  in 
their  lordly  oppreilors  and  their  unhappy 
offspring.  Neverthelefs  for  the  fake  of  iomc 
who  have  not  met  with,  or  fully  confidered 
thofe  former  publications,  and  in  hopes  that 
fome  who  are  ftill  active  in  fupport  of  flave- 
ry, may  be  induced  to  confider  their  ways, 
and  become  more  wife,  the  following  fub- 
ftance  of  an  addrefs  or  expoftulation  made 
,by  a  fenfible  Author,  to  the  feveral  ranks  of 
perfons  moft  immediately  concerced  in  the 
trade,  is  now  republifhed. 

"  And,  firft ,  to  the  Captains  employed  in 
this  trade.  Moft  of  you  know  the  country 
x>f  Guinea,  perhaps  now  by  your  means,  part 
of  it  is  become  a  dreary  uncultivated  wilder- 
nefs;  the  inhabitants  being  murdered  or  car- 
ried away,  fo  that  there  are  few  left  to  till 

the 


(  33  ) 
the  ground;  but  you  know,  or  have  heared, 
how  populous,  how  fruitful,  how  pleafant 
it  was  a  few  years  ago.  You  know  the  peo- 
ple were  not  ftupid,  not  wanting  in  fenfe, 
coniidering  the  few  means  of  improvement 
they  enjoyed.  Neither  did  you  find  them 
favage,  treacherous,  or  unkind  to  Grangers. 
On  the  contrary  they  were  in  mod  parts  a 
fenfible  and  ingenious  people;  kind  and* 
friendly,  and  generally  juii  in  their  dealings. 
Such  are  the  men  whom  you  hire  their  own 
countrymen,  to  tear  away  from  this  lovely 
country;  part  by  ftealth,  part  by  force,  part 
made  captives  in  thofe  wars  which  you  raife 
or  foment  on  purpofe.  You  have  feen  them 
torn  away,  children  from  their  parents,  pa- 
rents from  their  children:  Hufbands  from 
their  wives,  wives  from  their  beloved  huf- 
bands; brethren  and  fillers  from  each  other. 
You  have  dragged  them  who  had  never 
done  you  any  wrong,  perhaps  in  chains, 
from  their  native  fhore.  You  have  forced 
them  into  your  fhips,  like  an  herd  of  fwinej*' 

them 

*  The  following  Relation  h  infer  ted  at  the  rsquefl  of  tU 
Author. 

"  That  I  may  contribute  all  in  my  power  towards 
ft  the  good  of  mankind,  by  izifpirtng  any  of  its  indi- 
««  viduals  with  a  fuitable  abhorence  for  that  deteftable 
M  practice  of  trading  in  our  Fellow  Creatures,  and 
»«  in  fome  meafare  atone  for  my  neglec>  of  duty  as  a 
**  chriftian,  in  engaging  in  that  wicked -traffic,  I  offer 
tp.  to  their  ferious.  consideration,  {bflce-'few  occurrences 
**  of  which  I  was  an  eye  vritnefs.  That  being  itruek 
"■  with  the  wretched  and  affedtiag  feeae>  they  may 

"  f«ftcr 


(     34    ) 
them  who  had  fouls  immortal  as  your  own.    , 
You  have  flowed  them  together  as  clofe  as 
ever  they  could   lie,    without  any   regard 

either  to  decency  or  conveniency- And 

when  many  of  them  had  been  poifoned  by 
foul  air,  or  had  funk  under  various  hard- 
ihips,  you  have  feen  their  remains  delivered  to 
the  deep^  till  the  jea  JhoiM" give  up  his  dead. 
You  have  carried  the  furvivors  into  the  vi- 
left  flavery,  never  to  end  but  with  life:  Such 
flavery  as  is  not  found  among  the  Turks 
at  Algiers,  no,  nor  among  the  heathens  hi 
America.  May 

•*  fofter  that  humane  principle,  which  is  the  noble  and 
*•  diftinguifhed  character!  ft  ic  of  man." 

About  the  Year  1749  ;  I  failed  from  Liverpool  to 
the  coaft  of  Guinea,  fometime  after  our  arrival,  I  was 
ordered  to  go  up  the  country  a  confiderable  diftance, 
upon  having  notice  from  one  of  the  Negro  Kings,  that 
he  had  a  parcel  of  Slaves  to  difpofe  of,  I  received  my 
inftructions  and  went,  carrying  with  me  an  account  of 
fuch  goods  we  had  on  board,  to  exchange  for  the 
Slaves  we  intended  to  purchafe ;  upon  being  intro- 
duced, I  prefented  him  with  a  fmali  cafe  of  Spirits, 
a  Gun,  and  fome  trifles,  which  having  accepted,  and 
underftood  by  an  interpreter  what  goods  we  had,  the 
next  day  was  appointed  for  viewing  the  Slaves;  we 
found  about  two  hundred  confined  in  one  place.  But 
here  how  (hall  I  relate  the  affecting  fight  I  there  be- 
held, the  filent  forrow  which  appeared  in  the  coun- 
tenance of  the  afiiicled  father,  and  the  painful  anguifli 
of  the  tender  mother,  expecting  to  be  forever  feparated 
from  their  tender  offspring  ;  the  diftreffed  maid  wring- 
ing her  hands  in  prefage  of  her  future  wretchednefs, 
and  the  general  cry  of  the  innocent,  from  a  fearful 
apprehenfion  of  the  perpetual  flavery  to  which  they 
were  doomed.     I  purchafed  eleven*  who  I  conducted 

ty'd, 


(  35  ) 
May  I  fpeak  plainly  to  you  ?  I  mufl.  Love 
conftrains  me:  Love  to  you,  as  well,  as  thofe 
you  are  concerned  with.  Is  there  a  God?  You 
know  there  is.  Is  he  a  juft  God?  Then  there 
muft  be  a  ftate  of  retribution :  A  ftate  where- 
in the  juft  God  will  reward  every  man  accord- 
ing to  his  work.  Then  what  reward  will 
fee  render  to  you.  O  think  betimes!  before 
you  drop  in  eternity:  Think  how,  "  Hefhall 
"  have  judgment  without  mercy,  that  fhew- 
"  ed  no  mercy."     Are  you  a  man?  Then 

you 

ty'd,  two  and  two  to  our  ftiip.  Being  but  a  fmall 
veflel  (ninety  ton)  we  foon  purchafed  our  cargo  con- 
Ming  of  one  hundred  and  feventy  Slaves,  whom  thou 
may 'ft  reader  range  in  thy  view  as  they  were  fhack- 
led  two  and  two  together,  pent  up  within  the  narrow 
confines  of  the  main  deck,  with  the  complicated  diltrefs 
of  ficknefs,  chains  and  contempt- ;  deprived  of  every 
fond  and  focial  tie  and  in  a  great  meafure  reduced  to 
a  ftate  of  defparation.  We  had  not  been  a  fortnight 
at  Sea,  before  the  fatal  confequence  of  this  delpair 
appeared,  they  formed  a  defign  of  recovering  their 
natural  right,  liberty,  by  railing  and  murdering  every 
man  on  board  ;  but  the  goodnefs  of  the  Almighty  ren- 
dered their  fcheme  abortive  and  his  mercy-fpared  us 
to  have  time  to  repent :  The  plot  was  difcovered  ;  the 
ringleader  tied  by  the  two  thumbs  over  the  barricado 
door,  at  Sun-rife  received  a  number  of  lafhes,  in  this 
fituation  he  remain  till  Sun-fet,  expofed  to  the  infults 
and  barbarity  of  the  brutal  crew  of  Sailors,  with  full 
leave  to  exercife  their  cruelty  at  pleafure :  The  confe- 
quence was,  that  next  morning  the  miferable  fufferer 
was  found  dead,  flead  from  the  fhoulders  to  the  waift. 
The  next  victim  was  a  youth  who,  from  too  ftrong  a 
fenfe  of  his  mifery  refufed  nourifhment  and  died  disre- 
garded and  unnoticed,  till  the  hogs  had  fed  on  part 
.cfhisflefh. 


(    3*    ) 

you  mould  have  a  human  heart.  But  have 
you  indeed?  What  is  your  heart  made  of? 
Is  there  no  fuch  principle  as  companion 
there?  Do  you  never  fee)  another's  pain? 
Have  you  no  fympathy  ?  No  fenfe  of  human 
woe?  No  pity  for  the  miferable?  When  you 
faw  the  flowing  eyes,  the  heaving  breaft,  or 
the  bleeding  fides  and  tortured  limbs  of 
your  fellow  -creatures.  Was  you  a  ftone  or 
a  brute?  Did  you  look  upon  them  with  the 
eyes  of  a  tiger?  When  you  fqueezed  the 
agonizing  creatures  down  in  the  fhip,  or 
when  you  threw  their  poor  mangled  re- 
mains into  the  fea,  had  you  no  relenting? 
Did  not  one  tear  drop  from  your  eye,  one 
figh  efcape  from  your  breafl?  Do  you  feel 
no  relenting  now?  If  you  do  not,  you  rauit. 
go  on,  till  the  meafure  of  your  iniquities  is 
full.  Then  will  the  great  God  deal  with 
you,  as  you  have  dealt  with  them,  and  re- 
quire all  their  blood  at  your  hands.  And 
at  that  day  it  mall  be  more  tolerable  for  So- 
dom and  Gomorrah  than  for  you:  But  if 
your  heart  does  relent;  though  in  a  fmall 
degree,  know  it  is  a  call  from  the  God  of 
love.  And  to-day,  if  you  hear  his  voice, 
harden  .not  your  heart-  To-day  refolve, 
God  being  your  helper  to  efcape  for  your 
life — Regard  not  money:  All  that  a  man 
hath  will  he  give  for  his  life.  Whatever 
you  lofe,  lofe  not  your  Soul;  nothing  can 
countervail  that  lofs.  Immediately  quit  the 
horrid  trade:  At  all  events  be  an  honeft 
man.  This 


(     37    ) 

This  equally  concerns  every  merchant 
who  is  engaged  in  the  Slave-trade.  It  is 
you  that  induce  the  African  villain  to  fell 
his  countrymen;  and  in  order  thereto,  to 
(teal,  rob,  murder  men,  women  and  children 
without  number:  By  enabling  the  Englifh 
villain  to  pay  him  for  fo  doing;  whom  you 
over  pay  for  his  execrable  labour.  It  is  youc 
money,  that  is  the  fpring  of  all,  that  impow- 
ers  him  to  go  on,  fo  that  whatever  he  or  the 
African  does  in  this  matter,  is  all  your  act 
and  deed.  And  is  your  confcience  quite  re- 
conciled to  this?  Does  it  never  reproach  you 
at  all?  Has  gold  entirely  blinded  your  eyes 
and  ftupified  your  heart?  Can  you  fee,  can 
you  feel  no  harm  therein  ?  Is  it  doing  as  you 
would  be  done  to?  Make  the  cafe  your  own. 
£4  Mailer!  (laid  a  Slave  at  Liverpool  to  the 
"  merchant  that  owned  him)  what  if  fome 
-c  of  my  countrymen  were  to  come  here, 
"  and  take  away  my  miflrefs,  and  mailer 
"  Tommy  and  mafter  Billy,  and  carry  them 
"  into  our  country  and  make  them  Haves, 
"  how  would  you  like  it?"  His  anfwer  was 
worthy  of  a  man  :  "  I  will  never  buy  a  Have 
"  more  while  I  live."  O  let  his  relblution 
be  yours !  Have  no  more  any  part  in  this 
deteflable  buiinefs.  Inftantly  leave  it  to 
thofe  unfeeling  wretches,  "  Who  laugh  at 
"  humanity  and  companion." 

And  this  equally  concerns  every  Perfon 
who  has  an  eflate  in  our  American  plantati- 
ons: Yea  all  Slave-holders  of  whatever  rank 
D  and 


(  3«  ) 
&nd  degree;  feeing  menbuyers  are  exactly  on 
a  level  with  menftealers.  Indeed  you  fay, 
*'  I  pay  honeftly  for  my  goods;  and  I  am 
"  not  concerned  to  know  how  they  are 
*'  come  by."  Nay,  but  you  are:  You  are 
deeply  concerned,  to  know  that  they  are 
not  ftolen :  Otherwife  you  are  partaker  with 
a  thief,  and  are  not  a  jot  honefter  than  him. 
But  you  know  they  are  not  honeftly  come 
hy :  You  know  they  are  procured  by  means 
nothing  near  fo  innocent  as  picking  of  poc- 
kets, houfe  breaking,  or  robbery  upon  the 
highway.  You  know  they  are  procured 
by  a  deliberate  feries  of  more  complicated 
villainy,  (of  fraud,  robbery  and  murder,) 
than  was  ever  praclifed  either  by  Maho- 
metans or  Pagans;  in  particular  by  mur- 
ders of  all  kinds;  by  the  blood  of  the  inno- 
cent poured  upon  the  ground  like  water. 
Now  it  is  your  money  that  pays  the  mer- 
chant, and  thro'  him  the  captain  and  African 
butchers.  You  therefore  are  guilty :  Yea,  prin- 
cipally guilty,  of  all  thefe  frauds,  robberies, 
and  murders.  You  are  the  fpring  that  puts 
all  the  reft  in  motion;  they  would  not  ftir 

a  ftep  without  you. Therefore  the  blood 

of  all  thefe  wretches,  who  die  before  their 
time,  whether  in  their  country  or  elfe  where, 
lies  upon  your  head.  The  blood  of  thy 
brother,  (for  whether  thou  wilt  believe  it 
or  no,  fuch  he  is  in  the  fight  of  him  that 
made  him)  crieth  againft  thee  from  the 
earth,  from  the  fhip  and  from  the  waters. 

O!  what 


(  39  ) 
O !  what  ever  it  cod,  put  a  ftop  to  its  cry,  be* 
fore  it  be  too  late.  Inftantly,  at  any  price, 
were  it  the  half  of  thy  goods,  deliver  thyfelf 
from  blood  guiltinefs!  Thy  hands,  thy  bed* 
thy  furniture,  thy  houfe,  thy  land,  are  at 
prefent  ftai ned  with  blood.  Surely  it  is 
enough;  accumulate  no  more  guilt:  Spill 
no  more  the  blood  of  the  innocent!  Do  not 
hire  another  to  fhed  blood!  Do  not  pay  him 
for  doing  it!  Whether  thou  art  a  chriftian 
or  no,  mew  thy  felf  a  man;  be  not  more 
favage  than  a  lion  or  a  bear. 

Perhaps  thou  wilt  fay,  "  I  do  not  buy  any 
u  negroes:  I  only  ufe  thofe  left  me  by  my 
"  father."  But  is  it  enough  to  fatisfy  your 
own  confcience!  Had  your  father,  have  you, 
has  any  man  living,  a  right  to  ufe  another; 
as  a  Have?  It  cannot  be,  even  fitting  revela- 
tion afide.  It  cannot  be,  that  either  war, 
or  contract,  can  give  any  man,  fuch  a  pro- 
perty in  another  as  he  has  in  his  fheep  and 
oxen:  Much  lefs  is  it  poffible,  that  any 
child  of  man,  mould  ever  be  born  a  Have. 
Liberty  is  the  right  of  every  human  crea- 
ture, as  foon  as  he  breathes  the  vital  air. 
And  no  human  law  can  deprive  him  of  that 
right,  which  he  derives  from  the  law  of 
nature.  If  therefore  you  have  any  regard 
to  juftice,  (to  fay  nothing  of  mercy,  nor  of 
the  revealed  law  of  God.)  render  unto  alt 
their  due.  Give  liberty  to  whom  liberty  is 
due,  that  is  to  every  child  of  man,  to  every 
partaker  of  human  nature.     Let  none  ferve 


(  4°  ) 
you  but  by  his  own  act  and  deed,  by  his  own 
voluntary  choice.  Away  with  (hips,  chains 
and  all  compulfion.  Be  gentle  towards  all 
men.  And  fee  that  you  invariably  do  unto 
every  one,  as  you  would  he  fhould  do  unto 
you. 


Remarks  on  the  Nature  and  bad  Ejfefts  of 
SPIRITUOUS    Liquors. 

THE  common  life  ot  Spirituous  liquors  diftilled 
from  molafles,  grain,  fruit,  &c.  is  a  matter  that 
calls  for  the  particular  attention  of  every  lover  of 
mankind. 

Several  phyficians  of  note,*  have  given  it  as  their 
fentiments,  that  thofe  diftilled  fpirits  when  taken  in- 
wardly, even  tho'  mixed  with  water,  deftroy  the  hu- 
man frame;  being  burning  fpirits,  the  ufe  of  which 
bring  on  many  fatal  difeafes,  fuch  as  fevers,  jaundice, 
dropfies,  confumptions  and  whereby  multitudes  are 
daily  deftroyed.  That  they  parch  up  and  contract 
the  ftomach  to  half  its  natural  fize,  like  burnt  leather, 
and  rot  the  entrails,  as  is  evident,  not  only  by  open- 
ing the  bodies  of  thofe  perfons  who  are  killed  by 
drinking  them;  but  alfo  by  what  Doctor  Hoffman 
fays,  was  obferved  of  the  effects  which  the  cauftic 
fiery  remaining  warn  of  the  diftillers,  has  on  the  guts 
©f  thofe  hogs  which  in  fome  places  are  fed  by  it; 
•which  are  thereby  fo  tendered,  that  puddings  cannot 
be  made  in  them:  Wherefore  all  people,  who  have 
any  regard  to  their  health  and  lives  ought  to  tremble 
at  the    cravings  for  fuch  poifonous  liquors,    which 

(hortea 

r*  Doftor  Hoffman,  Chyne,  Short>  Lind,  Euchan,  &c. 


(    4i     ) 

fhorten  and  deftroy  the  lives  of  fuch  multitudes  of 
people.  It  is  farther  obfervable,  th?t  the  free  ufe  of 
thofe  Spirits,  deprave  the  morals  of  thofe  who  ad- 
dyft  themfelves  thereto  ;  the  feelings  of  their  minds  are 
gradually  benumbed;  an  infenfibility  to  the  healing 
influences  of  grace  prevails,  and  many  become  pro- 
fane and  regard iefs  of  their  duty  to  God  and  Man. 

Doctor  Cheyne,  in  his  Fflay  of  health  and  long  life, 
fays,  ««  All  people,  who  have  any  regard  to  their 
health  and  lives,  ought  to  tremble  at  the  firft  cravings 
for  fuch  poifonous  liquors.  The  maladies  begot  by 
them  bring  forth  neceffity  upon  neceffity  of  drams  and 
gills;  till  at  laft,  a  kind  dropfy,  nervous  convulfion, 
flux,  if  not  a  fever,  or  phrenfy  fets  the  poor  foul  free. 
It  has  often  raifed  in  me,  fays  the  Doctor,  the  mod 
melancholly  reflections,  to  fee  the  virtuous  and  fen(i» 
ble,  bound  in  fuch  chains  and  fetters,  as  nothing  lef£ 
than  omnipotent  grace  or  the  unrelenting  grave  could 
releafe  them  from." 

It  is  pretended,  that  drams  comfort,  warm,  and  de- 
fend from  the  feverity  of  weather,  to  which  men  are 
fometimes  expofed ;  without  which  they  fay,  they 
fhould  perifh  with  cold  ;  which  is  probably,  in  a  great 
meafure,  true  of  thofe  wfid  are  habituated  to  drink 
them;  the  blood  of  faeTi  being  thereby  fo  much  im- 
poverilhed,  that  it  is  well  known  many  of  the  drinkers 
of  drams  are  cold  and  lifelefs  in  the  midft  of  fummer, 
•without  frequent  repetitions;  this  is  what  fome  of 
them  have  owned.  But  on  the  other  hand,  how 
much  more  able  are  fober  performs  to  endure  cold  and 
hardfhips;  their  vital  heat  not  being  extinguifned  by 
intemperance,  does  by  its  kindly  genial  warmth,  more 
effetfually  fecure  them  from  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather,  than  the  falfeflafn  of  a  dram.  Befides,  it  is 
well  known,  that  men  did  not  perifh  in  the  coldeft 
countries  for  want  of  drams  formerly,  when  they  were 
not  to  be  had,  of  the  undoubted  truth  of  this,  Cap- 
tain Ellis  gives  a  full  proof  in  the  account  of  his 
voyage  to  Hudfon's  bay,  page  199:  Where  he  ob- 
ferves,    "  That  the  natives  of  the  very  cold  coaft  of 

E>  3  that 


C  v   ) 

that  Bay-,  to  wfcom  the  French  are  kinder  than  to  fefl 
cHftilled  fpirituous  liquors,  are  tall,  hardy,  robuft  and 
active;  whereas  thofe  of  them  that  are  fupplied  with 
drams  from  the  Englifh,  are  a  meagre,  dwarfifti,  indo- 
lent people,  hardly  equal  to  the  feverity  of  the  coun- 
try, and  fubject  to  many  diforders,  And  as  to  the  per- 
nicious effects  of  fpirituous  liquors  in  very  hot  cli- 
mates, (as  on  the  coaft  of  Guinea,)  it  is  obferved, 
that  the  French  and  Portuguefe,  who  do  not  indulge 
in  diftilled  fpirits,  are  healthy  compared  with  the 
Englifh;  who,  drinking  freely  of  fpirits  &c.  die  faft." 

The  unhappy  dram-drinkers  are  fo  abfolutely  bound 
in  flavery  to  thefe  infernal  fpirits,  that  they  feem  to 
have  loft  the  power  of  delivering  themfelves  from  this 
worft  of  bondage.  How  much  then  is  it  the  bounden 
duty  of  thofe,  who  have  it  in  their  power  to  withhold 
this  deftruetive  man  bane,  either  as  parents,  mafters, 
or  rulers  to  the  people  committed  to  their  truft.  This 
h  a  cafe  fo  calamitous  to  mankind,  that  to  have  a 
thorough  fenfe  of  it,  and  yet  not  to  remonftrate,  nor 
earneftly  caution  againft  it,  is  certainly  as  criminal  as 
it  is  unfriendly  not  to  warn  a  blind  perfon  of  a  dan- 
gerous precipice  or  pit  Yet,  alas  how  unconcerned  are 
the  greateft  part  of  mankind  at  this  enormous  ruin  of 
multitudes!  In  trials  for  life,  what  diligenee  is  ufed  to 
jind  the  ©ccafion  of  the  lofs  of  one  fubjecl.  What 
care  will  not  a  faithful  Phyfician  bellow  for  the  pre- 
servation of  one  life.  How  did  the  wife  Romans  ho- 
nour him,  who  faved  the  life  of  one  Roman  citizen. 
jjut  in  the  prefent  cafe  it  is  not  one,  nor- one  hundred, 
nor  one  thoufand,  but  probably  no  lefs  than  a.  million 
that  perifh  yearly. 

The  miftaken  ufe  and  grievous  abufe  of  rum  and 
cither  diftilled  fpirits,  in  no  cafe  appears  more  palpably 
than  at  the  time  of  harveft,  a  buftnefs  which  the  peo- 
ple under  the  MofaiG  difpenfation  were  enjoined  to, 
carry  on  with  humiliation  and  thankfgiving ;  but 
which  amongft  us  through  the  free  ufe  of  fpirituous 
liquors  is  made  an  occafion  of  a  greater  abufe  of  the 
r features  and.difhonour  of  the  Creator;   this  arifes  in 

many, 


(    43     ) 

many,   from  a  miftaken  perfuafion  that  hard'laboui\ 
particularly  that  of  the  harveft  field,  cannot  be  carried, 
on  without  ufing  a  quantity  of  rum  or  other  diftilled 
fpirits.     In  fupport  of  this  opinion,  we  are  frequently 
told  of  the  many  people  who  have  died  at  thofe  times 
through  the  extream  heat  and  fatigue,  and  it  is  fup- 
pofed  that  many  more  would  die,  if  a  plentiful  ufe  of 
fpirituous  liquors  was  not  allowed,  but  this  is  a  mif- 
taken notion,  it  being  much  more  likely,  that  the  free 
ufe  of  rum  occafioned  the  death  of  thofe  .people,  the 
quantity  they  had  fwallowed  down,   fending  a  great 
flov\    of   fpirits  into   the   head  in  proportion   to   the 
ftrength   of  their  body  caufed   them  to  ftrain  their 
ftrength  beyond  what  nature  could  bear ;  and  in  gene* 
ral  the  repeated  large  quantities  of  fpirit  commonly 
drank  during  the  whole  time  of  harveft,   keeps  up  the 
blood  in  fo  continual  a  ferment  and  fever,  that  people 
cannot  have  a  proper  reitorative  fleep;  their  conftitu- 
tions  are  thereby  enervated    their  lives  fhortned  and 
an  unfitnefs  for  religious  impreflions  generally  prevails. 
Thefe  weighty  confideration  s  have  induced  feme  well 
minded  people  to  endeavour  to  induce,  by  their  exam- 
ples, their  friends  and  neighbours  into  a  contiary  prac- 
tice ;  and  under  thefe  attempts  experience  has  made  it 
manifeft  that  very  little  or  no  ftrong  liquor  is  neceftary 
at  thofe  times ;  indeed  they  have  been  convinced  that 
the  harveft,   and  other  Jabourious  work,   can:  be  very 
well  managed  without  making  ufe  of  any  fpirituous 
liquors  at  all.     If  fuch  labour  was  carried  on  with 
fteadinefs  and  proper  moderation,   there  would  cer- 
tainly be  no  need  of  a  recruit  of  ftrength  being  fought 
for  by  that  means;  more  frequent  intervals  of  reft  with 
a,-  little  food  oftener  allowed  the  reapers,   and  fmall 
drhiks,  fuch  as  molaflesand  water,  either  alone  or  made 
more  agreable  with  a  little  cyder,  fmall  beer,  or  even 
milk  and  water  would  fully  enable  them  to  perform 
their  work  to  their  employer's  fasisfa&ion  and  their 
own  advantage,   and  the  overplus  wages  they  would 
receive  to  the  value  of  the  fpiFits  ufually  given  them. 
Bright  be  fuftkient  to  nurchafe  bread  for  their  families, 

Several 


(    44    ) 

Several  perfons  who  from  a  perfuafion  that  the  com- 
mon method  of  giving  fpirituous  liquors  to  labourers 
was  exeeding  hurtful,  have  made  it  a  condition  with 
thofe  they  have  employed,  not  to  ufe  any  fpirituous 
liquors  in  their  field;  thefe  have  had  their  work  per- 
formed to  good  fatisfaction  and  without  any  damage 
enfuing  to  their  labourers.  Nay,  where  they  have 
remained  any  confiderable  time  with  fuch  employers, 
they  have  generally  acknowledged  themfelves  fenfi- 
ble  of  the  benefit  ariiing  from  having  thus  totally  re- 
frained the  ufe  of  thofe  liquors. 

Should  this  practice  take  place,  it  would  prove  a 
great  bleffing  particularly  to  the  labouring  people,  one 
half  of  whom  (a  phyfician  of  this  country  hath  given 
as  his  fentiment)  die  fooner  than  they  otherwife  would 
do,  folely  by  the  ufe  of  fpirituous  liquors  Befnies, 
that  it  would  difcourage  the  diftillation  of  rye  and 
other  grain;  a  practice  which  is  not  only  a  great  hurt 
to  the  poor  in  raifing  the  price  of  bread,  but  rauft 
alfo  be  very  offenfive  to  God,  the  great  and  good  fa- 
ther of  the  family  of  mankind,  that  people  fhould,  in 
their  earthly  and  corrupt  wifdom,  pervert  their  Maker's 
benevolent  intention,  in  converting  the  grain  he  hath 
given  to  us  as  the  (tafr  of  life,  unto  a  fiery  fpirit,  fo 
deftructive  of  the  human  frame  and  attended  with 
the  other  dreadful  confequences  already  mentioned. 
Here  it  may  be  noted,  that  any  quantity  of  good  mo- 
laffes  will  by  diftilation,  yield  more  than  the  fame 
quantity  of  proof  fpirit.  And  that  a  confiderable 
quantity  of  molaffes  if  taken  with  bread  at  one  time, 
as  the  Indians  will  fometimes  do,  will  not  intoxicate, 
the  fpirituous  parts  in  the  molaffes  being  properly 
united  by  our  good  and  wife  creator  with  the  earthy 
and  balfamick  parts,  fo  as  to  make  it  quite  friendly  to 
our  nature;  but  when  by  diftilation  the  fpirituous 
parts  are  feparated  from  the  other  parts,  that  meafure 
of  fpirits  proceeding  from  the  fame  quantity  of  mo- 
laffes, becomes  a  fiery  liquid,  deftructive  of  the  human 
frame.  Doctor  Buehan  in  his  Domeftic  Medicine,  or 
Family  Phyfician,  a  book  which  has  gained  fo  much 

efteem 


(     45     ) 

efteem  as  to  be  twice  published  in  this  city,  at 
page  71  of  the  Englifh  Edition  fays,  "  many  imagine 
««  that  hard  labour  could  not  be  fupported  without 
•Sdrinking  ftrong  liquors.  This,  tho'  a. common  is  a 
'*  very  erronous  notion,  men  who  never  tailed  ftrong 
"  liquors  are  not  only  able  to  endure  more  fatigue, 
«<  but  alfo  live  much  longer  than  thofe  who  ufe  them 
tl  daily.*  But  fuppofe  Itrong  liquors  did  enable  a 
'«  man  to  do  more  work,  they  muft  nevertheless  wafte 
"  the  powers  of  life,  and  of  courfe  occafion  premature 
"  old  age  They  keep  up  a  conftant  fever,  which 
♦«  waftes  the  fpirits,  heats  and  inflames  the  blood  and 
«'  predifpofes  the  body  to  numberlefs  difeafes.  At 
"  Page  *M  fame  author  tells  us,  that  all  intoxicat- 
««  ing  liquors  may  be  confidered  as  poifons.  How- 
"  ever  difguifed,  that  is  their  real  character,  and  fooner 
m  or  later  they  will  have  their  effect." 

Amongft  the  fereral  prejudices  in  favour  of  the  mif- 
taken  ufe  of  fpirituous  liquors,  there  is  none  gives  it  a 
greater  fanclion  or  fupport,  than  the  prevailing  opini- 
on, even  with  perfons  of  reputation,  that  what  they 
term  a  moderate  quantity  of  rum  mixed  with  water, 
is  the  beft  and  fafeft  liquor  that  can  be  drank;  hence 
confirming  the  opinion,  that  fpirit  in  on«  form  or 
other  is  neceflTary.  To  fuch  who  have  not  been  ac- 
cuftomed,  and  think  they  cannot  habituate  themfelves 
to  drink  water,  there  may  appear  to  be  fome  kind  of 
plea  in  this  argument,  efpecially  to  travellers,  who 
often  meet  with  beer,  cyder,  or  other  fermented  li- 
quors that  are  dead,  hard,  four,  or  not  properly  fer- 
mented, which  tend  to  generate  air  in  the  bowels, 
produceing  colicks,  &c.  But  if  thofe  perfons  fuffered 
the  weight  of  the  fubject,  and  the  encouragement  they 
thereby  give  to  the  ufe  of  thefe  deftrucYive  fpirits,  to 
take  proper  place  with  them,  it  might  fuggeft  the  pro- 
priety, if  not  neceflky  of  introducing  a  more  falutary 
practice. 

That 

*  The  few  of  thofe  who  notwkhftanding  their  excefs  in  drink- 
ing fpmtuo*is  liquors,  from  the  uncommon  ftreng'h  of  their  con- 
stitution, may  have  attained  to  confiderahle  age,  would  doubtlcfs 
luste  lived  much  longer  if  they  had  lived  temjperate  lives, 


(    4<5    ) 

That  pure  fluid  (water)  which  the  benevolent  father 
of  the  family  of  mankind,  points  out  for  general  ufe, 
is  fo  analegous  to  the  human  frame,  that  people 
might  with  fafety  gradually  ufe  themfelves  to  it  Dr. 
Cheyne  obferves,  that  without  all  doubt,  water  is  the 
primitive  original  beverage,  as  it  is  the  only  fimple 
fluid  fitted  for  diluting,  moiftening  and  cooling  ;  the 
ends  of  drink,  appointed  by  nature,  and  he  adds  happy 
had  it  been  for  the  race  of  mankind,  i** other  mixed  and 
artificial  liquors  had  never  been  invented.  Water 
alone  is  fufficient  and  effectual  for  all  the  purpofes  of 
human  want  in  drink :  Strong  liquors  were  never  de- 
figned  for  common  ufe.  Speaking  of  the  effect  of  wine, 
which  he  fays  to  have  been  fo  much  in  ufe  at  the 
time  he  wrote,  that  the  better  fort  of  people  fcarcely 
diluted  their  food  with  any  other  liquor,  he  remarks, 
•*  That  as  natural  caufes  will  always  produce  their 
t(  proper  effects,  their  blood  was  inflamed  into  gout, 
**  ftone,  and  rheumatifm,  raging  fevers,  pleurifies,  &c. 
««  Water  is  the  only  difolvent  or  menftrum  and  the 
u  moft  certain  diluter  of  all  bodies  proper  for  food  " 

Doctor  Short,  in  his  difcoorfe  of  the  inward  ufe  of 
water,  fpeaks  much  in  its  commendation.  He  fays, 
we  can  draw  a  very  convincing  argument  of  the  excel- 
lency of  water,  from  the  longevity  and  healthfulneis 
of  thofe  who  at  firft  had  no  better  liquor,  and  the 
health  and  ftrength  of  body  and  ferenty  of  mind,  of 
thofe  who  at  this  day  have  no  other  common  liquor 
to  drink,  of  this  the  common  people  amongft  the  High- 
lands of  Scotland,  are  a  fufficient  inftance,  amongft 
whom  it  is  no  rarity  to  find  perfons  of  eighty,  ninety, 
yea  an  hundred  years  of  age,  as  healthy  ftrong  and 
nimble,  as  wine  or  ale  bibbers  are  at  thirty  fix  or  forty. 
The  Doctor  fays,  There  is  a  ridiculous  maxim  ufed 
by  drinkers,  that  water  makes  but  thin  blood,  not  fit 
for  bufmefs.  I  fay,  fays  he,  it  is  water  only  that  caa 
enduce  its  drinkers  with  the  ftrongeft  bodies  and  moft 
robuft  conftitutions,  where  exercife  or  labour  is  joined 
with  it,  fmce  it  beft  aflifts  the  ftomach  and  lungs  to 
reduce  th&  aliments  into  the  fmalleft  particles,  that 

th&F 


(     47     ) 

,  they  may  better  pafs  the  drainers  of  the  body,  which 
feparates  the  nutritious  parts  of  the  blood  to  be  ap- 
plyed  to  the  fides  of  the  veffels,  and  exercife  invigo- 
rates the  fibres  and  mufcles ;  whereas  the  rapid  motion 
of  the  blood  excited  by  drinking  fpirituous  liquors, 
ca*i  not  fail  of  being  prejudicial  to  the  body,  it  will 
caufe  the  watery  parts  to  diflipate,  and  the  remaining 
to  grow  thick  and  tough,  and  the  event  be  obftructions, 
inflammations,,  impofthumations,  &c. — and  tho'  ftrong 
liquors  afford  a  greater  flow  of  fpirits  for  a  fhort  time, 
yet  this  is  always  followed  with  as  much  lownefs  of 
fpirit;  fo  that  to  gain  a  neceflary  flock  of  fpirits,  the 
perfon  is  obliged  to  repeat  the  fame  force,  till  he  learns 
a  cuftom  of  drinking  drams.  In  this  we  are  confirm- 
ed, if  we  confider  the  great  flrength  and  hardinefs 
of  poor  rufticks  in  many  parts  of  the  world,  whole 
provifions  is  moftly  vegetable  food,  and  their  drink 
water.  The  doctor  adds,  that  it  often  happens  that 
perfons  of  tender,  weakly,  crazy  conftitutions,  by  re- 
fraining from  ftrong  liquors  and  accuftoming  themfelves 
to  drink  water,  make  a  fhift  to  fpin  out  many  years. 

After  defcribing  the  many  diftempers  produced  by 
drinking  malt  or  other  fermented  liquors  he  adds,  that 
feeing  conftitutions  differ,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that 
fpirituous  liquors  fhould  produce  all  the  lame  fymp- 
toms  in  one  and  the  fame  perfon,  yet  that  all  drinkers 
jiave  feveral  of  them;  and  if  they  come  not  to  that 
height,  its  becaufe  they  afterwards  ufe  great  exercife 
or  hard  labour,  with  fometimes  thin  diluting  liquors, 
which  prevent  their  immediate  hurting. 

And  with  refpect  to  fuch  well  difpofed  people,  who  ftill 
retain  a  favourable  opinion  of  the  ufe  of  fpirits  mixed 
with  water,  ought  they  not,  even  from  a  love  to  man- 
kind, t©  endeavour  to  refrain  from  it,  on  account  of 
the  effect  their  example  may  have  in  incouraging 
others  in  the  ufe  of  fpirituous,  liquors,  agreable  to  the 
example  left  us  by  the  apoftle  Paul,  i  Cor.  VIII,  13. 
If  meat  make  my  brother  to  offend  1  ivill  eat  no  fiefh  nvhile 
the  iuorld  ftands,  left  1  make  my  brother  to  offend.  How 
much  more  ought  they  to  refrain  from  that  which 

tends 


(     48     ) 

tends  to  eflaUifh  mankind,  in  a  practice  fo  gene- 
rally deflxuctive,  more  efpecially  when  they  confider 
the  danger  themfelves  are  in  of  encreafing  the  quan- 
tity of  fpirit  with  tl^ir  water,  as  it  has  been  obferved, 
that  the  ufe  of  this  mixture  is  particularly  apt,  almoft 
imperceptible  to  gain  upon  thofe  that  ufe  it,  fo  that 
many  otherwife  good  and  judicious  people  have  un- 
warily to  themfelves  and  others,  fallen,  with  the  com- 
mon herd,  a  facrifice  to  this  might  devourer. 

A  very  eminent  phyfician  has  given  the  following  di- 
rection, for  the  benefit  cf  thofe  who  have  not  wifdom 
enough  left  at  once  to  abandon  the  odious  and  pernici- 
ous practice  of  drinking  diftilled  fpirituous  liquors,  viz. 
By  degrees  to  mix  water  with  the  fpirit,  to  le/Ten  the 
quantity  every  day,  and  keep  to  the  fame  quantity  of 
water,  till  in  about  the  courfe  of  a  week,  nothing  of  the 
dram  kind  be  ufed  along  with  water.  By  this  means 
the  perfon  will  fuffer  no  inconveniency,  but  reap  great 
benefit  upon  leaving  off  drams  or  fpirits  as  has  been 
tried  by  many.  If  any  gnawing  be  left  in  the  Piomach 
upon  quite  leaving  it  off,  a  little  warm  broth,  weak  tea, 
or  any  thing  of  that  kind,  wili  be  a  fervice.  The  ap- 
petite always  increafes  in  a  few  days  after  leaving  off 
drams,  unlefs  by  the  too  long  continuance  of  them, 
the  tone  of  the  iromach  is  deftroyed.  And  when  the 
ftomach  is  thus  affected  a  cup  of  carduus,  camomile  tea, 
wormwood  or  centaury  every  morning  fading  anct 
every  evening  wili  be  found  a  good  remedy. 


THE        END. 


CHRISTIAN    PIETY: 

I   £       By    PHILALETHES. 

With  Ext  ratls  from  different  Authors. 

ALL  the  mifery  and  diftrefs  of  human  na- 
ture, whether  of  body  or  mind,  is  wholly 
owing  to  this  caufe,  That  God  is  not  in  man, 
nor  man  in  God,  as  the  Hate  of  his  nature  re- 
quires: It  is  becaufe  man  has  loft  that  firft  Life 
of  God  in  his  foul,  in  and  for  which  he  was 
created:  He  loft  this  Life,  and  Light,  and  Spi- 
rit, by  turning  his  imagination,  will  and  de- 
lire,  into  a  tailing  and  fenfibility  of  the  good 
and  evil  of  this  earthly  world. 

There  are  two  things  raifed  up  in  man  inftead 
of  the  Life  of  God;  firft  9  Self,  or  felfi/hnefs, 
brought  forth  by  his  chufing  to  have  a  will  and 
wifdom  of  his  own,  contrary  to  „he  will  and  in- 
ftruclion  of  God  his  Creator.  Secondly  9  An 
earthly,  beftial,  mortal  life  and  body,  brought: 
forth  by  his  eating  that  food  which  was  poifon 
to  his  paradifical  nature:  Both  thefe  muft  there- 
fore be  removed;  that  is,  a  man  muft  firft  die 
totally  to  felf,  and  to  all  earthly  defires,  views 
and  intentions,  before  he  can  be  again  in  God, 
as  his  nature  and  firft  creation  require. 

If  this  be  a  certain  and  immutable  truth, 
That  man,  fo  long  as  he  is  a  felfifii,  earthly 
minded  creature,  muft  be  deprived  of  his  true 
life,  the  Life  of  God,  the  Spirit  of  Heaven  in  his 
foul;  what  mifery,  nay,  what  a  curfe  is  there 
in  every  thing,  that  nourifhes  and  gratifies 
our  Sett-love,  Self-eft eem  and  Self-feekmg;  and 
A  what 


(  2  ) 

what  life  is  fo  much  to  be  dreaded  as  a  life  of 
worldly  cafe  and  profperity  ?  On  the  other  hand, 
what  happinefs  is  there  in  all  outward  and  inr 
ward  troubles  and  diftreiTes,  when  they  force 
us  to  feel  and  know  the  hell  that  is  hidden  with- 
in us,  and  the  vanity  of  every  thing  without 
us;  when  they  turn  all  our  Self-love  into  Self- 
abhorrence,  and  force  us  to  call  upon  God  to 
fave  us  from  ourfelves,  and  to  give  us  a  new 
Life,  new  Light,  and  new  Spirit  in  Jefus  Chrift. 
£S  Oh  happy  famine!  might  the  poor  Prodi- 
A(-  gal  have  well  faid,  which,  by  reducing  me 
fc  to  the  neceffity  of  afking  to  eat  hufks  with 
"  fwine,  brought  me  to  myfelf,  and  caufed  my 
*c  return  to  my  firft  happinefs  in  my  father's 
-"■  houfe."  In  like  manner  may  be  laid  to  him 
who  feels  the  deepefl  diftreiTes;  inwardly,  dark- 
uefs,  heavinefs,  and  confufion  of  thoughts  and 
pafllons;  outwardly,  ill  ufage  from  friends,  re- 
lations, and  the  world,  unable  to  flrike  up  the 
lead  fpark  of  light  or  comfort,  by  any  thought 
or  reafoning  of  his  own;  Oh  happy  famine! 
which  leaves  you  not  fo  much  as  the  hulk  of 
one  rmman  comfort  to  feed  upon,  for  this  is  the 
time  and  place  for  ail  that  good  and  falvation  to 
happen  to  you,  which  happened  to  the  prodi- 
gal ion ;  your  way  is  as  fhort,  and  your  fuc- 
cefs  as  certain  as  his  was;  you  have  no  more  to 
do  than  he  had;  you  need  not  call  for  books  and 
methods  of  devotion;  for  in  fuch  a  ftate,  much 
reading  and  borrowed  prayers  are  not  your  beft 
method:  All  that  you  are  to  offer  to  God,  all 
that  is  to  help  you  to  find  him  to  be  your  Savi- 
our and  Redeemer,  is  befl  taught  and  expreffed 
by  the- diftrefled   (late  of  your  heart:  Only  let 


(  3  ) 
vour  diftrefs  make  you  feel  and  acknowledge 
this  twofold  truth;  firfl,  That  of  yourfelf,  you 
are^nothing  but  darknefs,  vanity  and  mifery; 
fecondly,  That  of  yourfelf,  you  can  no  more 
help  yourfelf  to  light  and  comfort,  than  you 
can  create  an  angel.  People  at  all  times  can 
feem  to  afTent  to  thefe  two  truths;  but  then  it 
is  an  affent  that  has  no  depth  or  reality,  and  fa 
of  little  ufe;  but  your  condition  will  open  your 
heart  for  a  deep  and  full  conviction  of  thefe 
truths:  Now  give  way,  I  befeech  you,  to  this 
conviction,  and  then  you  are  the  prodigal  come 
to  yourfelf,  and  above  half  the  Work  is 
done. 

Being  in  full  poffeffion  of  thefe  two  truths, 
and  feeling  them  in  the  fame  degree  of  certain- 
ty as  you  feel  your  own  exigence,  you  are,  un- 
der this  fenhbility,  to  give  up  yourfelf  abfolute- 
]y  and  entirely  to  Ood  in  Chiift  Jefus,  as  into 
the  hands -of  infinite  love;  finnJy  believing  this 
great  and  infallible  truth,  that  God  has  no  will 
towards  you  but  that  of  infinite  love,  and  infi- 
nite defire  to  make  you  a  partaker  of  his  divine 
nature;  and  that  it  is  as  abfolutely  impoifible 
for  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  to  re- 
fufe  you  all  that  good  and  falvalion  you  want, 
as  it  is  for  you  to  take  it  by  your  own  power. 
Oh  drink  deep  of  this  cup!  for  the  precious 
water  of  eternal  life  is  in  it.  Turn  unto  God 
with  this  faith;  call:  yourfelf  into  this  abyfs  of 
love;  and  then  you  will  be  in  that  ftate  the  pro- 
digal was  in,  when  he  faid,  I  will  art fe  and  go  to 
my  Father,  and  will  fay  unto  him,  Father,  I  have  ' 
ftnned  againjl  heaven*  and-  before  thee,  and  am  m 

more 


(     4     ) 
mote  worthy  to  be  called  thy  fon\  and  then  all  that 
which  is  related  of  him,  will  be  fulfilled  in  yo_i/. 

Make  this  therefore  the  twofold  exercife  of 
your  heart;  now,  bowing  yourfelf  down  before 
God,  in -the  deeped  fen fe  and  acknowledgment 
of  your  own  nothingnefs  and  vilenefs;  then, 
looking  up  unto  God  in  faith  and  love,  confider 
Him  as  always  extending  the  arms  of  his  mercy 
towards  you,  and  full  of  an  infinite  defire  to 
dwell  in  you,  as  he  dwells  in  the  Angels  in  hea- 
ven: Content  yourfelf  with  this  inward  and 
fimple  exercife  of  your  heart  for  a  while,  and 
leek  or  like  nothing  in  any  book,  but  that  which 
nourifhes  and  firengthens  this  date  of  your 
heart. 

Come  unto  me,  fays  the  holy  Jefus,  all  ye  that 
labour,  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  refrejh  you; 
here  is  more  for  you  to  live  upon,  more  light 
for  your  mind,  more  of  unclion  for  your  hearty 
than  in  volumes  of  human  indruclion ;  pick 
up  the  words  of  the  holy  Jefus,  and  beg  of 
him  to  be  the  life  and  light  of  your  foul ;  love 
the  found  of  his  name,  for  Jefus  is  the  love,  the 
fweetnefs,  the  companionate  goodnefs  of  God 
himfelf,  which  became  man,  that  fo  man  might 
have  power  to  become  the  Sons  of  God ;  love, 
and  pity,  and  wifh  well  to  every  foul  in  the 
world ;  dwell  in  love,  and  then  you  dwell  in 
God;  hate  nothing,  but  the  evil  that  dirs  in 
your  heart. 

Teach  your  heart  this  prayer,  till  it  conti- 
nually faith,  though  not  with  outward  words  ; 
"  O  Holy  Jefus,  meek  Lamb  of  GGd,  Bread 
"  that  came   down   from  heaven.    Light  and 

"  Life 


(  5  ) 
*f  Life  of  all  holy  fouls,  help  me  to  a  true  and 
u\  living  faith;  Oh  do  thou  open  thyfelf  vvithia 
"Wi£,  wi.th  all  thy  holy  pature,  fpirit,  tempers 
"and  inclinations,  that  I  rnav  b?  born  again  p£ 
45  thee,  a  new  creature,  quickened  and  revived, 
"  led  and  governed   by  thy  Holy  ;Sp irk. "_ 

Prayer  fo  practifed  becorties  th§life  oj [the  fouis 
and  the  true  food  of  eternity:  Keep  in  this  Hate 
of  application  to  God.  and  then  you  "will  find 
it  to  be  the  true  way  of  rifiog  out  of -the  vanity 
of  time  into  the  riches  of  eternity. 

We  muff  not  always  look  fpr  the, -fame  de- 
grees of  fervour;  the  matter  liesi.not, there;;  na- 
ture will  have  its  mare;  but  the  ufJSiaMtd-downs 
of  thqt  are  to  be .overlooked,  whilll  the_vvill  and 
fpirit  are  good,  and  let  right,  for  tf*e changes  p£ 
animal  fervour  le/Ien  not  our  unioU:-with  ,God* 
It  is  the  a  by  is  of  the  heart,  an  unfathomable 
ckpe-h  of  eternity  within  us,  as  fnuch  above  fen« 
fibre  fervour,  as  heaven  is  above  earth;,  it  isthis 
that  works  our  way  to  God,  and,  unites;  with* 
him;  this  is  the  divine  nature  and  power  with- 
in us,  which  never  calls  upon  God  in  vain,  .but 
whether  helped  or  defeated  by  bodily:  fervour,, 
penetrates  through  all  outward  nature,  as  eafily 
and  efTeclually  as  our  thoughts jcanjeave  our  bo« 
dies,  and  reich  into  the.  regions  fcf  eternity. 

The  poverty  of  opn,  fallen  jjna£ufe,,  :the  de- 
praved workings  of  fjeihand  ,ploOyl>  .the  cor- 
rupt tempers  of  our  polluted  birth  in  this  world, 
do  us  no  hurt,  fo  long  -as  the  fpirit  of  prayer 
works  contrary  to  them,  and  longs  for  the 
iirit  birth  of  the  light  and  fpirit  of  heaven,  All 
our  natural  evil  ceafes  to  be  our  own  evil,  as 
A  2  foorL 


(     6     j 
u>on  as  our  will  and  fpirit  turn  from  it;  it  then 
changes  its  nature,^  lores' all  its  poiion  and  death 
and  only  becomes  our  holy  crofs,   on  which  "we 
bUpf>i!y  die  from  felf  and  this  world  into  the 
kingdom  of   heaven. 

Let  <us  therefore  continually  confider  God,  as 
the  greater! ;  love;  his  eternal  unchangeable  will, 
as-  the  gresiefi:  good  and  biefling  to  every  crea- 
tivr-g;  and  ¥hat  all  the  mifery,  darknef?  and  death 
of-faller^fc-ugels  and  fallen  man,  confifls  in  their 
having  loft  their  likenefs  to  this  divine  nature: 
Let  us  alio  confider  ourfelves,  and  all  the  fallen 
world,  as1  having  nothing  to  feek  or  wifh  for, 
bat  by  the  'fpiritot  prayer  to  draw  into  our  fouls 
rays  and  fp^arldS  of  the  divine,  meek,  loving, 
tender' nature  of  God:  LafUy,  let  us  confider 
the  holy  jefti'si  as  the  gift  of  Got]  to  our  fouls, 
to  'Wo$k  and  hniih  the  birth  of  God  within  us, 
in '%3t;e  of  eVery  inward  and  outward  enemy. 
Thfcfb  thrlee' infallible  truths^  heartily  embraced, 
and-rriade  thferhourilh?nent  of  our  fouls,  fhorten 
and  <fexure;'t  highway  to  heaven,  and  leave  no 
room"'f©F  error,  fcruple  or  deluflon. 

E^pecVvno'-rigbt,  life  or  comfort,  but  from 
ihe  Spirit  of  God  dwelling  and  manifefting  his 
own^goodnefedn  your  foul-":  The  beft  of  men 
and 'the  beft  of  books  can  do  us  good  only  fo 
far  as  they^tuPn  us  from 'themleives  and  every 
hurnan<omfo*3,  -to  feek,  and  have,  and  receive 
every  kind  of  good'  from  God  alone;  not  a  dif- 
tant,  nor  an  abfeht  God,  but  from  him  v, ho 
lives,  and  moves,  -and  works  in  the  fpirit  of  our 
fouls :  They  never  rind  God,  who  fearch  for  him 
by  reafonin'g  and'  ipeculation;  for  fince  God  is 

the 


(  7  > 
the  higheft  Spirit  and  the  higheft:  Life,  nothing 
ttut  a  like  fpirit  and  a  like  life  can  unite  with 
hY*?i>  find,  feel  or  know  any  t&irjg  of  him: 
Hence  it  is,  that  faith,  and  hope,  and  love  turn- 
ed towards  God,  are  the  only  poflible  and  alfo 
infallible  means  of  obtaining  a  true  ana  living 
knowledge  of  him:  And  the  reafon  is  plain, 
becaufe  by  thefe  holy  tempers,  which  are  the 
workings  of  his  Life  and  Spirit  within  us,  we 
feek  the  God  of  Life,  where  he  is,  we  call  upon 
him  with  his  own  voice,  we  draw  near  him  by 
his  own  Spirit;  for  nothing  can  breathe  forth 
faith,  and  love,  and  hope  to  God,  but  that 
Spirit  and  Life  which  are  of  God,  and  which 
through  flefli  and  blood,  thus  prefs  towards 
him,    and  readily  unite  with  him. 

There  is  not  a  more  clear  truth  than  this, 
That  neither  reajoning  nor  learning  can  ever  in- 
troduce a  fpark  of  heaven  into  our  fouls;  and 
if  this  be  true,  we  have  nothing  to  feek,  nor 
any  thing  to  fear  from- reafon :  Life  and  Death 
are  the  things  in  queftion,  they  are  neither  of 
them  the  growth  of  reafon  or  learning,  but 
each  of  them  is  a  if  ate  of  -the  foul,  and  thus 
differ,  Death  is  the  want,  and  Life  is  the  enjoyment 
of  its  .higheft  good,  Keafon  therefore  and  learn- 
ing hcive  no  power  here,  but  by  their  vain 
activity  to  keep  the  foul  infenfible  of  that  life 
and  death,  one  of  which  is  always  growing  up 
in  it,  according  as  the  will  and  defire  of  the 
heart  worketh:  Add  reafon  to  a  vegetable,  and 
you  add  nothing  to  its  life  or  death;  its  life  or 
fruitfuinefs  lieth  in  the  foundnefs  of  its  root, 
and  tte  goodnefs  of  the  foil,  and  the  ftrength 

it 


(  8  ) 
it  derives  from  air  and  light.  Heaven  and  Hell 
grow  tHm  in  the  foul  of  every  man;  his  hear; 
is  the  root;  if  that  be  turned  from  evil,, k"is 
like  the  plant  in  a  good  foil;  when  it  hungers 
and  thirds  after  the  divinelife,  it  then,  by  the 
fpirit  of  prayer,  infallibly  draws  the  Light  and 
Spirit  of  God  into  it,  which  are  infinitely  more 
ready  and  willing  to  live  and  fructify  in  the  foul, 
than  light  and  air  to  enter  into  the  plant;  for 
the  foul  hath  its  being  and  life  for  no  oiber  end 
but  that  the  tri-une  God.  mav  manifeit  the  riches 
and  power  of  his  own  life  in  it, 

When  therefore  it  is  the  one  ruling,  never- 
chafing  defire  ;of  our  hearts, :  that  God  may  be 
the  beginning  and  end,  the  reafon  and  motive, 
the  rule  and  xneafure  of  our  doing  or  not  do- 
ing, from  morning  to  night;  then  every  where, 
whether  fpeaking  or  flient,  whether  inwardly 
or  outwardly  employed,,  we  are  equally  offered 
up  to  God,  have  our  lite  in  him,  and  from  him; 
and  are  united  to  him  by  that  Spirit  of  Prayer 
which  is  the  com  fort,,  .the  fupport,  the  rlrength, 
and  fecurky  i^f  the  foul;  For  this  Spirit  of  Pray- 
er, let  us  willingly  give  up  all  that  we  inherit 
from  our  fallen  father ;  to  be  all  .hunger  and  th'irfi 
after  God.;  to  have  no  care  or  thought,  but  how 
to  be  wholly  his  devoted  initrunients,  every 
-where  and  in  every  , things  his  adoring,  thank- 
ful, joyful  fervaat. 

Let  us  have  eyes  fhu£, .  and  ears  flopped  to 
every  thing,  that  is  not  a  ftep  in  that  ladder 
that  reaches  from  earth  to  heaven:  To  help  us 
forward,  reading  is  good,  hearing  is  good,  con- 
verjaiiGn  and  meditation  are  good;  but  then,  they 


are 


.(     9     ) 

are  only  good  at  times  and  occafions,  in  a  cer- 
tain degree,  and  mull  be  ufed  and  governed 
vvITFrfuch  caution,  as  we  eat,  drink  and  refrefh 
ourfeives,  or  they  will  bring  forth  in  us  the 
fruits  of  intemperance:  But  the  Spirit  of  Pray- 
er is  for  all  times  and  all  occasions;  it  is  a  lamp 
to  be  always  burning;  a  light  to  be  ever  min- 
ing; every  thing  calls  for  it,  every  thing  is  to 
be  done  in  it,  and  governed  by  it;  becaufe  it 
is,  and  means,  and  wills  the  abfoiute  totality  of 
the  foul,  not  in  doing  this  or  that,  but  wholly 
and  incefTantly  given  up  to  God,  to  be  and  do 
what,  and  where,  and  when  he  pleafes. 

This  ftate  of  abfoiute  refignation,  naked  faith, 
and  pure  Love  of  God,  is  the  higheli  perfection, 
and  moil  purified  life  of  thof'e,  who  are  Chrifli- 
ans  indeed ;  and  is  neither  more  or  lefs  than  what 
our  bieffed  Redeemer  has  called  and  qualified 
us  to  afpire  after  in.  thefe  words,  Thy  kingdom 
come;  thy  will  be  done  in  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. 
It  is  to  be  fought  for  in  the  fimplicity  of  a  little 
child,  without  being  captivated  with  any  myfte- 
rious  depths  or  heights  of  fpeculation ;  without 
coveting  any  knowledge,  or  wanting  to  fee  any 
ground  of  nature,  grace  or  creature,  only  fo  far 
as  they  bring  us  nearer  to  God,  force  us  to 
renounce  and  forget  every  thing  for  him,  to  do 
every  thing  in  him,  with  him,  and  for  him; 
and  to  give  every  breathing,  moving,  ltirring, 
intention  and  deiire  of  our  foui,  fpirit  and  life 
to  him. 

Let  every  creature  have  your  love:  Love, 
with  its  fruits  of  patience,  metknefs,  humility,  &en~ 
fr'ene/s,  joy,  is  all  we  can  wifk  to  ourieives  and 

our 


(  1°  ) 

our  fellow- creatures;  for  this  is  to  live  to  God, 
united  to  him,  both  for  time  and  eternity. 

To  defire  to  communicate  good  to  every^crea- 
ture,  in  the  degree  we  can,  and  it  is  capable 
of  receiving  from  us,  is  a  divine  temper,  for 
thus  God  ffands  unchangeably  difpofed  towards 
the  whole  creation;  but  as  we  value  the  peace 
which  God  has  brought  forth  by  his  Holy  Spi- 
rit ki  us,  as  we  continually  deiire  to  be  taught 
by  an  unction  from  above,  let  us  not  willingly 
enter  into  difputes  with  any  about  the  truths 
of  falvation ;  but  give  them  every  help,  except 
that  of  debating  with  them;  for  no  man  has  a 
fitnefs  for  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  till  he  finds 
an  hunger  and  thirft  for  fomething  better  than 
that,  which  he  is  and  has  by  nature:  Yet  we 
ought  not  to  check  our  inclinations  to  help 
others  in  every  way  we  can,  only  let  us  do  what 
we  do  as  a  work  of  God;  and  then,  whatever 
may  be  the  event,  we  mail  have  reafon  to  be 
content  with  the  fuccefs  God  gives  to  it.  He 
that  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear;  may  be 
enough  for  us,  as  it  was  for  our  blelfed  Lord. 
The  next  thing  that  belongs  to  us,  which  is  alfo 
Godlike,  is  a  true  unfeigned  patience  and  meek- 
nefs,  {hewing  every  kind  of  good- will  to  thofe, 
who  tura  a  deaf  ear  towards  us;  and  looking 
upon  it  to  be  as  contrary  to  God's  method,  and 
the  good  ftate  cf  our  own  fouls,  to  difpute  with 
any  man  in  contentious  words,  as  to  fight  with 
him  in  defence  of  gofpel  truths. 

Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  an  heavy 
laden,  and  I  will  refrejh  you,  faith  our  bleffed 
Lord;  and  again,  he  faith  by  Saint  John,  I  will 

give 


U  ii    ) 

give  unto  him  that  is  aihirfl^  of  the  fountain  of 
the  water  of  life  freely.;  He  called  none  elfe,  be- 
ciAgferno  one  elfe  hath  ears  to  hear,  or  a  heart  to 
receive  the  truths  of  redemption. 

Every  man  is  a  vain  difputer,  till  fomething 
has  difturbed  his  ftate  and  awakened  a  fenfibi- 
lity  of  his  own  evil  and  miserable  nature;  we 
are  all  of  us  afraid  both  of  inward  and  outward 
diftrefs,  and  yet  till  diftrefs  comes,  our  life  is 
but  a  dream,  and  we  have  no  awakened  feelings 
of  our  own  true  ftate.     • 

We  are  apt  to  coniider  parts  and  abilities,  as 
the  proper  qualifications  for  the  reception  of 
divine  truths ;  and  to  wonder,  that  a  perfon  of 
a  fine  underftanding  fhould  not  immediately 
embrace  juft  and  folid  doctrines:  But  the  mat- 
ter is  quite  otherwife;  had  man  kept  pofTefFion 
of  his  firft  glorious  ftate,  there  had  been  no 
foundation  for  the  gofpel  redemption,  and  the 
-doctrine  of  the  Crofs  muft  have  appeared  quite 
unreafonable  to  be  prefTed  upon  him;  and  there- 
fore, fays  our  Lord,  To  the  poor  is  the  gofpel 
preached,  it  is  foiely  to  them,  and  to  none  elfe; 
that  is,  to  poor  fallen  man,  who  has  loft  all  the 
true  natural  riches  and  greatnefs  of  his  divine 
life,  to  him  is  the  gofpel  preached;  but  if  man 
feels  and  knows  nothing  of  this  poverty  of  his 
nature,  he  is  not  the  perfon  to  whom  the  gof- 
pel belongs;  it  has  no  more  fuitablenefs  to  his 
ftate,  than  it  had  to  man  unfallen;  and  then, 
the  greater  his  parts  and  abilities  are,  the  better 
is  he  qualified  to  fhew  the  folly  of  every  Doc- 
trine, of  which  he  has  no  want;  and  (being 
ignorant  of  the  depth  of  his  heart)  to  glofs  over 
the  neceiikies  and  infirmities  of  his  nature. 


(        »       ) 

Such  a  man,  though  he  knows  it  not,  is  as 
yet  only  at  play  and  paftime  in  a  matter  of  eter- 
nal confequence,  pleafing  himfelf  with  fuppa'.- 
ed,  deep  enquiries  after  ftricl  truth,  whilft  he  is 
only  fporting  himfelf  with  lively,  wandring 
images  of  this  or  that,  juft  as  they  happen  to 
Hart  up  in  his  mind;  but  till  he  fees  himfelf  in 
the  ftate  of  the  prodigal  fon,  and  feels  himfelf 
that  very  perfon  there  recorded,  he  cannot  fee 
the  fitnefs  of  that  redemption,  which  the  in- 
finite love  of  Gtfd  offers  to  him:  Such  an  one, 
alas!  is  rich,  he  is  found,  light  is  in  his  own 
power,  goodnefs  is  in  his  own  pofleffion,  and 
eternal  life  within  his  own  reach;  he  feels  no 
diftrefs  or  darkiiefs,  but  has  a  crucible  of  reafon 
and  judgment,  that  on  every  occafion  feparates 
gold  fromdrofs;  therefore  he  muit  he  left  to 
his  own  Elyjium,  till  the  tender  mercy  of  God 
awakens  him  by  other  methods  than  argument 
and  difputation. 

Let  us  beware  alfo  of  the  religious  Pharifee, 
who  raves  againft  fpiritual  religion,  becaufe  it 
touches  the  very  heartftring  of  all  fyifemati- 
cal  divinity,  and  makes  the  very  foundation  of 
every  Babel  in  every  Chriitian  country;  for  not 
a  fyftem  of  divinity,  fince  fy items  were  in  be- 
ing, whether  Popifh  or  Proteftant,  deferves  a 
better  name. 

All  preachers  of  the  true,  fpiritual  myftery, 
of  a  birth,  light  aqd  life  from  above,  in  and 
by  Jefus  Chrift,  ever  were,  and  will  be  treated 
by  the  reigning,  fafhionable  orthodoxy,  as  ene- 
mies to  the  letter  and  ordinances  of  the  gof- 
pel;  in  like  manner  as  the  prophets  in  the  Jew- 

ijb 


(  13  ) 
ijh  church  (who  were  the  myftic  preachers  of 
that  difpenfation)  were  defpifed  and  condem- 
nWy,  for  calling  people  to  a  fpiritual  meaning 
of  the  dead  letter,  to  a  .holinefs  infinitely  grea- 
ter than  that,  which  they  placed  in  outward 
facrificeSj  forms  and  ceremonies.  '  h 

Whoever  he  be  that  has  any  iituatio.n  of  his- 
own  to  defend,  be  it  that  of  a  celebrated  preach- 
er, a  champion  for  received  orthodoxy,  a  heady 
a  leader  or  follower  of  any  fecf.  or  party,  or  par- 
ticular method,  or  that  feems,  both  in  his  own. 
eyes,  or  in  the  eyes  of  others,  to  have  made 
himfelf  fignificant  in  any  kind  of  religious  di- 
flinction ;  every  fuch  peribn  fooner  or  later  will 
find,  that  he  has  much  of  that  very  fame  to 
give  up,  which  hindered  the  zealous  and  emi- 
nently religious  Phariiee  from  converting  to 
Chrift  in  the  fpirit  of  a  little  child. 

Nor  doth  it  help  the  matter,  that  fuch  art 
one  abounds  with  piety  and  excellency;  for  St. 
Paul  was  governed  by  a  fpirit  of  great  piety, 
great  excellency  and  zeal  for  God,  when  he  was 
perfecuting  the  difciples  of  Chrift.  He  fays  of 
himfelf,  That  he  lived  in  all  good  conference \  as 
touching  the  law  biamelefs^  and  according  to  the 
ft  rait  eft  feci  of  the  Jewifh  religion :  for  the  Pha- 
rifecs,  though  many  of  them  had  all  that  hypo- 
crify  and  rottennefs  which  Chriit.  laid  to  their 
charge,  yet  as  a  feci  they  were  an  order  of  mod 
conferled  and  refplendent  fanctity;  and  yet  the 
more  earned  and  upright  they  were  in  this  kind 
of  zeal  for  goodnefs,  the  more  earneftly  they 
oppofed  and  condemned  the  heavenly  my.dery 
of  a  new  life  from  Chriu%  as  appears  from  St. 
Paul,  B 


(     i4    ) 

This  fed:  of  the  Pharifees  did  not  ceafe  With 
the  Jewijh  church,  it>only  loft  its  old  name,  jf 
is  (till  in  being,  and  fprings  now  in  the  iame 
manner  from  the  gofpel,  as  it  did  then  from  the 
law;  it  has  the  fame  place,  lives  the  fame  life^ 
does  the  fame  work,  minds  the  fame  things, 
has  the  fame  goodnefs  at  heart,  has  the  fame 
religious  honour,  and  claim  to  piety,  in  the 
Chriftian,  as  it  had  in  the  Jewijh  church;  and 
as  much  miftakes  the  depths  of  the  myftery  of 
the  gofpel,  as  that  feci:  miftook  the  myftery  fig- 
nified  by  the  letter  of  the  Law  and  the  Prophets. 

It  would  be  eafy  to  fhew  in  feveral  inftances, 
how  the  leaven  of  that  feet  works  amongft  us, 
juft  as  it  did  amongft  them :  Have  any  of  the  ru- 
lers believed  on  him?  was  the  orthodox  queftion 
of  the  antient  Pharifees.  Now  we  Chriftians 
readily  and  willingly  condemn  the  weaknefe 
and  folly  of  that  queftion;  and  yet  who  does 
not  fee,  that,  for  the  moft  part,  both  prieft  and 
people,  in  every  Chriftian  country,  live  and 
govern  themfelves  by  the  folly  and  weaknefs 
of  the  very  fame  fpirit  which  put  that  quefti- 
on-, for  when  God,  as  He  has  always  done 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  raifes  up  pri- 
vate and  illiterate  perfons,  full  of  light  and 
wifdom  from  above,  fo  as  to  be  able  to  difcover 
all  the  workings  of  the  myftery  of  iniquity, 
and  to  open  the  ground,  and  truth,  and  abso- 
lute neceffity  of  inch  an  inward  Spirit  and  Life 
of  Ch-rili:  revealed  in  us,  as  time,  carnal  wifdom, 
and  worldly  policy  have  departed  from;  when 
all  this  is  done,  by  the  weakeft  inftruments  of 
God,  in  fuch  a  fun  pi  i  city  and  fulnefs  of  de- 
mon- 


<  15  } 

monflration  as  may  be  juftly  deemed  a  miracle; 
do  not  Clergy  and  Laity  get  rid  of  it  all,  though 
evep-.fo  unanfwerable,  merely  by  the  ftrength 
of  the  Pharifees  good  old  queilion,  faying  with 
them,  "  Have  any  of  the  Rulers  believed  and 
"  taught  thefe  things?  Hath  the  church  in 
"  council  or  convocation  ?  Hath  Calvin,  Luther, 
"  Zwingliiis,  or  any  of  our  renowned  Syftern- 
"  makers,  ever  taught  or  afferted  thefe  mat- 
l*  tersr" 

But  hear  what  our  blefTed  Lord  faith,  of  the 
place,  the  power,  and  origin  of  truth;  he 
refers  us  not  to  the  current  doctrines  of  the 
times,  or  to  the  fyftems  of  men,  but  to  his  own 
Name,  his  own  Nature,  his  own  Divinity  hid- 
den in  us:  My  Jheep,  faith  he,  hear  my  voice. 
Here  the  whole  matter  is  decifively  determined, 
both  where  truth  is,  and  who  they  are  that  can- 
have  any  knowledge  of  it. 

Heavenly  truth  is  no  where  fpoke  but  by  the 
voice  of  Chrift,  nor  heard  but  by  a  power -of 
Chrift  living  in  the  hearer.  As  He  is  the  eter- 
nal only  Word  of  God,  that  fpeaks  forth  all 
the  wifdom,  and  wonders  of  God;  fo  He  alone 
is  the  Word,  that  fpeaks  forth  all  the  life,  wif- 
dom,  and  goodnefs,  that  is  or  can  be  in  any 
creature;  it  can  have  none  but  what  it  has  in 
him  and  from  him;  this  is  the  one  unchangeable 
boundary  of  truth,  goodnefs,  and  every  perfec- 
tion of  men  on  earth,  or  angels  in  heaven. 

Literary  learning,  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end  of  time,  will  have  no  more  of  heavenly 
wifdom,  nor  any  lefs  of  worldly  foolifhnefs  in 
it,   at  one  time  than  at  another;   its  nature  is 

one 


(     i6     ) 

one  and  the  fame  through  all  ages ;  what  it  was 
in  the  Jevv  and  the  Heathen,  that  lame  it  is  in 
the  Chriftian.  Its  name  as  well  as  native  is 
unalterable,  viz. fooh/hnefs  with  God. 

Though  the  mockings  of  fuch  men,  and  the 
many  other  fpiritual  conflicts  with  the  world, 
the  flefh,  and  the  devil,  may  abound  with  trials 
difagreeable  to  flefh  and  blood,  yet  be  of  good 
dxear  and.  fear  not;  ft  ana  faft  in  the  Lor d^  and 
he  vv.il  hear  thee  in  the  day  of  trouble  \  the 'Name 
■/'  the  God  cf  Jacob  will  defend  thee-,  he  will 
j end  thee  help  jrem  the  /ancluary,  and \ftrengthen 
thee  out  of  8 ion.  The  Lord  of  Hosts,  who  has 
overcome  the  world,  will  flrengthen  thee,  and 
give  thee  the  victory  in. ail  things;  and  this  is 
the  victory  that  overumeth  the  world,  even  our 
Faith:  fight  therefore  the  good  fight  of  Faith,  for 
to  him  that  overcometh.  our  almighty  Saviour 
by  his  Holy  Spirit  hath  promifed  to  give  the  tree 
of  life. —  That  he  fhall  not.  be  hurt  of  the  fecond 
death — That  he  fhall  fit  zvith  him;  and  that  he 
/ball  inherit  all  things  *.  Even  fo  grant,  blefled 
Lord,  to  every  one  that  calleth  upon  thy  name. 
Amen, 

For  your  afliilance  in  this  ftate  of  trial,  I  will 
tranferibe  a  few  Rules,  which  have  long  lain 
by  me  for  my  own  ufe;  and  may  the  God  of 
all  comfort  bring  them  home  to  your  heart  with 
a  fulnefs  of  bleiling,  and  make  them  infirument- 
al  to  unite  you  more  firmly  to  him. 

I.  Re- 

*  Thefe,    and  many  like  pairages,    may  be  read  in  the 
Jpoaa-ypfs,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  holy  Scripture. 


(     «7     ) 

I.  Receive  every  outward  and  inward  trou- 
ble, every  difappointrnent,  temptation,  and  de- 
flation, with  both  thy  hands,  as  a  true  oppor- 
tunity of  dying  to  fei.f,  and  of  entering  into  a 
fuller  fellowihip  with  thy  felr-denying  fuffering^ 
Saviour. 

II.  Look  not  at  any  inward  or  outward 
trouble  in  any  other  view;  rej eel:  every  other 
thought  about  it;  and  then  every  kind  of  trial 
and  diflrefs  will  become  the  blefied  day  of  thy 
profperity. 

III".  Be  afraid  of  feeking  or  finding  comforC 
in  any  thing  but  God  alone.  What  eonftitutes 
a  pure  heart?  one  to  which  God  alone  is  total- 
ly, and  purely  fufikient;  to  which  nothing 
relifhes,  or  gives  delight  but  God  alone! 
:  IV.  That  ftate  is  beft,  which  exercifeth  the 
higheft  Faith  in,  and  fulled  reiignation  to  God. 

V.  What  is  it  vou  want  and  feek,  but  that: 
God  may  be  all  in  all  in  jolt?  But  how  can  this 
be,  unlefs  all  creaturely  good  and  evil  become 
as  nothing  in  you,  or  to  you  ?  Oh  my  foul i  ab- 
stract thy teU  from  every  thing.  What  haft  thou 
to  do  with'  changeable  creatures?  Waiting  and 
expecting  thy  Bridegroom,  who  is  the  author 
of  all  creatures,  let  it  be  thy  fole  concern  that 
he  may  find  thy  hearfe'  free  anddifengaged  as 
often  as  it  fhall  pieafe  him  to  vifit  thee, 

VL  Be  allured  6f  this,  that  fooner  o^  later,, 
we  mult  be-  brought  to  this  conviction,  That* 
every  thing  in  ourselves  by  nature  is  evil,  and 
muft  be  entirely  given  up;  and  that  nothing 
tbat-is  creaturely  can  make  us  better  than  we 
B  2  arf/ 


(     r8     ) 

are  by  nature.  Happy  therefore  and  blefled 
are  all  thole  inward  or  outward  troubles,  that 
batten  this  conviction  in  us;  rhat  with  the  whole 
$frehigi4i  &f  our  fouls,  we  may  be  driven  to  leek 
ajMi  om  and  in  God,  without  the  leait  thought, 
hope,  or  contrivance  after  any  other  relief: 
'I  lien  it  is,  that  we  are  made  truly  partakers 
of  the  crofs  or  Chriii,  and  from  the  bottom  of 
our  hearts  (hail  be  enabled  to  fay  with  Saint 
Paiil,  God  forbid  that  I  fhould  glory  in  any  things 
fave  the  crofs  of  cur  Lord  Jefus  Chriji,  by  which 
I  am  crucified  to  the  world,  and  toe  world  is  cru- 
cified to  me. 

VII.  Finally,  Give  up  yourfe'f  to  God  with- 
out referve  This  implies  inch  a  Itate  or  habit 
of  heart,  as  does  nothing  of  kfelf,  from  its  own 
reafon,  will  or  choice,  but  Hands  always  in  faith, 
hope,  and  abfolute  dependence  upon  being  led 
by  the  Spirit  of  God  in  every  thing  and  every 
occafion,  that  is  according  to  God's  will  and 
deiign  with  us;  feeking  nothing  by  dehgningT 
reaioningv  and  reflection,  but  how  you  fhall 
bed  promote  the  honour  of  God  in  finglenefs 
of  heart;  meeting  every  thing  that  every  day 
brings  forth,  as  fomething  that  conies  from 
God,  and  is  to  be  received  and  gone  through 
in  inch  an  heavenly  ufe  of  it,  as  you.  would 
fuppofe  the  holy  Jefus  would  have  done,  in  fuch 
occurrences. — This  is  an  attainable  degree  of 
perfection,  and  by  having  Chrift  and  his  Spirit 
always  in  your  eye,  and  nothing  elfe,  you  will 
never  be  left  to  yourfelf,  nor  without  the  full 
guidance  of  God, 

EX- 


c  m  ) 

E  XT  R  AC  TS,  &c'"  . 

THAT  grand  enemy  of  mankind,  the  devil, 
is  very  jultly  caicd  in  icnpmre  the  pnnce 
and  god  of  this  world,  for  indeed  he  has  great 
power  in  it,  many  of  its  rules,  and  principles 
being  invented  by  this  evil 'fpirit,  the  father  of 
all  lies  and  raifhood,  to  feparate  lis  from  God* 
and  prevent  our  return  to  happinefs:  For,  ac- 
cording to  the  fpirit  and  vogtie  of  this  ■  world, 
whofe  corrupt  air  we  have  liP breathed,  there 
are  many  things  that  pafs  for  great  and  honour- 
able, and  moft  delii  able,  which  yet  are  fo  far 
from  being  fo,  that  the  true  greatnefs  and  ho- 
nour of  our  nature  confiits  in  the  not  defiring 
them.  To  abound  in  wealth,  to  have  fine  houfes 
and  rich  cloaths,  to  be  attended  with  fplen- 
dor  and  equipage,  to  be  beautiful  in  our  per- 
fons,  to  have  titles  of  dignity,  to  be  above  our 
fellow-creatures,  to  be  looked  on  with  admira- 
tion, to  overcome  our  enemies  with  power,  to 
heap  up  treafures  upon  earth,  to  add  houfe  to 
houfe  and  field  to  field,  and  delight  ourfelves  in 
the  moft  cottly  manner,  thefe  are  the  great,  the 
honourable,  the  defii able  things,  to  which  the 
fpirit  of  the  world  turns  the  eyes  of  moft  peo- 
ple. And  many  a  man  is  afraid  of  ftanding  (till, 
and  not  engaging  in  the  purfuit  of  thefe  things, 
left  the  fame  woild  ihould  take  him  for  a  fool. 

Yet  the  hiftory  of  the  gofpel,  is  chiefly  the 
hiftory  of  ChrifVs  conquer!  over  this  fpirit  of 
the  world,  and  the  number  of  true  Chriftians, 
is  only  the  number  of  thofe,  who  following  the 
fpirit  of  Chrift,  have  lived  contrary  to  this  fpi- 
rit of  the  world, 


C  20    1 

This  is  the  mark  of  Chriitianity,  Lay  not  up  for 
yeur/elves  trea fares  upon  earthy  Mat.  vi.  19.  How 
hardly  fh all  they  that  have  riches  enter  the  kingdom  ef 
God,  Mark  x.  23.  The  dec uitfulmfs  of  riches  choke 
the  word,  Mat.  xiii.  22.  Wo  unto  you  that  are  richt 
for  ye  have  received  your- confolation,  Luke  vi.  24. 
IVhofoever  is  born  of  God  over  comet  h  the  world,  1 
John  v.  ■  4 ,  Set  your  ajfeElions  on  things  above,  a nd 
not  on  things  on  earth,  for  ye  are  dead,  and  your  life 
is  hid  with  Chrifi  ij&God,  CoU  iii.  2.  Love  not  the  ' 
wond,  nor  the  things  of  the  world.  If  any,  man  love 
the  world,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  -trim;  for 
all  that  is  in  the  world,  the  tuft  of  the  flefh,  the  iuft 
of  the  eyes,  and  the  pride  of  life  is  not  of  the  Fatner; 
but  is  of  the  world.  1  John  ii.  15.  Know  ye  not 
that  the  friend  fhip  of  the  world  is  enmity  with  God, 
whojoever  there] ore  .will  be  a-  friend  of  the  world 
is  the  enemy  of  God,  James  iv.  4.  Be' not  con- 
formed  to  this  world;  but  be  ye  transformed  by  the  ' 
renewing  of  your  mind.  Rom-  xii.   2 . 

This  is  the  language  of  thQ  whole  New-Tef- 
lament.  You  are  to  be  dead  to  the  world,  and 
to  live  a  new  life  in  Chrifi  jefus  our  Lord.  But 
notwithstanding  the  clearnefs  and  plainnefs  of 
thefe  doctrines  by  which  believers  in  Chrifi  are 
required  thus  to  renounce  the  world,  yet  great 
part  of  the  ChriiHans  live  and  die  flaves  to  the 
cuftoms  and  tempers  of  the;  world.  .,  Learn  of 
me,  faith  our  blefTed  Saviour,  for  1  am  meek  and 
lowly  in  heart,  and  you  flmll  find  reft  to  your  fouls*  - 
Mat.  s.L  29V-  Now  this  meek, ■•this  lowly  ftate, 
that  conititutes  thetruereft  of.  the  foul,  cannot 
fubful  in  any  mind,  butfo  far  as  it  is  thus  dead 

to 


'.-■ 


(       21        ) 
to  the  world,  and  has  parted  with  all  deiires  of 
enjoying  all  its  riches,    pleafures  and  honours. 
So  that  in  order  to  be  truly  humble,  you  inuit 
unlearn  all  thefe  notions,  which  you  have  been 
all  your  life  learning,  from  this  corrupt  fpirit  ot 
the  world.     You  can  make  no  ft  and  againft  the 
aiTaults  of  pride,    the  meek  affections  of  humi- 
lity can  have  no  place  in  your  fouls,    till  you 
ftop  the  power  of  the  world  over  you,  and  re- 
folve  asrainft  a  blind  obedience  to  its  laws.     And 
when  you  are  once  advanced  thus  far,  as  to  be 
able  to  ftand  Hill  in  the  torrent  of  worldly  fafh- 
ions,  and  opinions,  and  examine  the  worth  and 
value  of  things,  which  are  moft  admired   and 
valued  in  the  world,  you  have  gone  a  great  way 
in  the  gaining  of  your  freedom,  and  have  laid 
a  good  foundation  for  the  amendment  of  your 
heart.     Think  upon   the  rich,   the  great,    and 
the  learned  perfons,  that  have  made  great  figures, 
and  been  high  in  the  efteern  of  the  world;  ma- 
ny of    them  died  in  your  time,    and  yet  they 
are  funk,  and  loft,  and  gone,  and  as  much  dis- 
regarded by  the  world,  as  if  they  had  been  on- 
ly io  many  bubbles  of  water.     And  is  it  worth 
your  while  to  lofe  the  fmalleft  degree  of  virtue, 
for  the  fake  of  pleafing  fo  bad  a  mafter,  and  fo 
falfe  a  friend,  as  the  world  is?  Is  it  worth  your 
while  to  bow  the  knee  to  fuch  an  idol,    as  this 
that,   fo  foon  will  have  neither   eyes,   nor  ears, 
nor   a   heart   to  regard    you;    inftead   of   ferv- 
ing  that  great,  and  holy,  and  mighty  God,  that 
will  make  all  his  fervants  partakers  of  his  own 
eternity  I 

Our 


(       »       ) 

Oar  blelTed  Saviour  Jefus  Chrift  gave  hlmfelf 
for  our  fins,  that  he  might  deliver  us  Jrom  this  pre' 
fent  evil  world,  Gal.  i.  4.     Ghiftianity  therefore 
implieth  a  deliverance  from  this  world;  and  he 
that  profeffeth  it,  profeffeth  to  live  contrary  to 
every  thing,  and  every  temper,  that  is  peculiar 
to  this  evil  world.     The  apoflle  John  declareth 
this  oppoiition   to   the  world  in  this  manner: 
They  are  of  the  world,  therefore  [peak  they  of  the 
world,    and  the  world  heareth  them-.    We  are  of 
God,  &-c.    1  John  iv.  5.     This  is  the  defcripti- 
on   of  the  followers  of  Chriit ;  and  it  is  proof 
enough,    that    no   people  are  to  be  reckoned 
Chriftians  in   reality,    who  in  their  hearts  and 
tempers  belong  to  this  world.     V/e  know,  faith 
the  fame  Apoftie,   that  we  are  of  God,  and  the 
whole    world  lieth    in  wickednefs,    Chap.  v.   19. 
Chrutians  therefore  can  no  farther  know  that 
they  are  of  God,  than  fo  far  as  they  know  they 
are  not  of  the  world,  that  is*  that  they  dont 
live   according  to  the  ways  and  fpirit  of   the 
world.     And.  he  is  only  of   God,    or  born  of 
God,    in  Ghrid  Jefus,    who  has  overcome  this 
world,  that  is,  who  has  chofen  to  live  by  faith, 
and  govern  his  actions  by  the  principles  of  a 
wifdom  revealed  from  God,    by  Chrift  Jefus. 
They  are  not  of  this  world,  as  I  am  not  of  this 
world,,  fays  our  bleffed  Saviour.     This  is  the 
ftate.  of  Chriftianity  with  regard  to  this  world, 
the  profeffion  of   Chriftians  requiring  them  to 
live  as  citizens  of  the  new  Jerufalem,    and   to 
have  their  converfation  in  heaven.     If  you  are 
not  thus  out  of,  and  contrary  to  the  world,  you 
wjiat  the  diiiinguifhing  mark  of  Chriftianity; 

you 


(  m  ) 

you  dont  belong  to  Chrift,  but  by  being  out  of 
the  world,  as  he  was  out  of  it.  We  may  de- 
ceive, ourfelves;  if  we  pleafe,  with  vain  and 
foftning  comments  upon  thefe  words;  but  they 
are,  and  will  be  underftood  in  their  firft  fimpli- 
city,  and  plainnefs,  by  every  one  that  reads 
them  in  the  fame  fpirit,  that  our  blefled  Lord 
fpoke  them.  And  to  underftand  them  in  any 
lower,  lefs  fignificant  meaning,  is  to  let  carnal 
wifdom  explain  away  that  doctrine,  by  which 
itfelf  was  to  be  deftroyed. 

Our  blefTed  Saviour  fuffered,  and  was  a  fa- 
-crifice,  to  make  our  fuffering,  and  facrifice  of 
ourfelves  fit  to  be  received  by  God.  And  we 
are  to  fuffer,  to  be  crucified,  to  die,  and  to  rife 
with  Chrift;  or  elfe  his  crucifixion,  death,  and 
refurrection  will  profit  us  nothing.  The  ne- 
cefiity  of  this  conformity  to  all  that  Chrift  did, 
and  fuffered  upon  our  account  is  very  plain  from 
•the  whole  tenor  of  fcripture.  Firft,  As  to  his 
fufferings,  this  is  the  only  condition  of  our  be- 
ing faved  by  them.  If  we  fuffer  with  him,  we 
Jhall  a I/o  reign  with  him,  2  Tim.  ii.  11.  Second- 
ly, As  to  his  crucifixion,  Knowing  this,  that  our 
old  man  is  crucified  with  him,  Rom.  vi.  6\  Here 
you  fee  Chrift  is  not  crucified  in  our  ftead;  but 
unlefs  our  old  man  be  really  crucified  with 
him,  the  crofs  of  Chrift  will  profit  us  nothing. 
Thirdly,  As  to  the  death  of  Chrift,  the  condi- 
tion is  this:  If  we  be  dead  with  Chrift,  -we  believe 
that  we  fiall  alfo  live  with  him,  ver.  8.  If  there- 
fore Chrift  be  dead  alone,  if  we  are  not  dead 
with  him,  we  are  as  fure  from  this  fcripture, 
that  we  fell  not  live  with  him.     JLaftly,  As  to 

the 


(     24     ) 
the  refurreclion  of  Chrifr,  the  fcripture  (heweth 
us,  how  we  are  to  partake  of  the  benefit  of  it: 

If  ye  be  ri fen  with  thrift,  feek  thofe  things  which 
are  above,  where  Chrifl  fiiteth  on  the  right  hand 
of  God,  Col.  iii.  i.  It  was  for  this  reafon,  that 
the  holy  Jefus  faid  of  his  difciples,  and  in  rhem 
of  all  true  believers,  They  are  not  of  this  world, 
as  I  am  not  of  this  world,  Becaufe  all.  true  be- 
lievers conforming  to  the  fufferings,  crucifixi- 
on, death,  and  refurreclion  of  Chi  iff,  live  no 
longer  after  the  fpirit  and  temper  of  tins  world, 
hut  their  life  is  hid  with  ChriM  in  God.  This 
is  the  Rate  of  Reparation  from  the  world,  tO' 
which  all  orders  of  Chriftians  are  called.  They 
muft-fo  far  renounce  all  wordly  tempers,  be  ib 
far  governed  by  the  things  of  another  life,  as 
to  fhew,  that  they  are  truly  and  really  cruci- 
fied, dead,  and  rifen  -with  Chrift.  If  any  man 
be  in  Chrift  he  is  a  new  creature,  old  things,  are 
pajjed  away,  behold  all  things  are  become  mw,  2 
Cor.  v.   17., 

The  ancient  Philofophers  began  all  their  vir- 
tue in  a  total  renunciation  of  the  fpirjt  of  this 
world;  they  faw  with  the  eyes -of -heaven,  that 
darknefs  was  not  more  contrary  to  iight,  than 
the  fpirit  and  wifdom  of  this  world  was  con- 
trary to  divine  wifdom:  Therefore  they  allow- 
ed of  no  progrefs'  in  virtue,  but  fo  far  as  a 
man  had  overcome  himfelf,  and  the  fpirit  of 
this  world.  This  gave  a  divine  folidity  to  all 
their  inflructions,  and  proved  them  to  be  ma- 
ilers of  true  wifdom.  But  the  docb  ine  of  the 
crofs  of  Ghrilt,  the  laif,  the  hisdieft,  the  molt 
finifhing  ftroke  given  to  the  fpirit  of  this  world, 

that 


{(  25  ) 
that  fpeaks  more  in  one  word,  than  all  the  phi- 
lofophy  of  voluminous  writers,  is  yet  profefTed 
by  tfrofe,  who  are  in  more  friendfhip  with  the 
-world,  than  was  allowed  to  the  difciples  of  Pi- 
thagoras,  Socrates,  Plato  or  Epicletus.  Nay, 
if  thofe  ancient  Sages  were  to  flart  up  amongft 
us  with  their  divine  wifdom,  they  would  bid 
fair  to  be  treated  by  the  fons  of  the  gofpel,  ifc 
not  by  fome  Fathers  of  the  church,  as  dream- 
ing Enthufiafts.  But,  this  is  a  {landing  truth, 
the  world  can  only  love  its  own,  and  wifdom 
can  only  be  juftified  of  her  children.  The  hea- 
ven-born Epicletus  told  one  of  his  fcholars,  That 
then  he  might  firft  look  upon  himfelf  as  having  made, 
fome  true  proficiency  in  virtue ,  when  the  world  took 
him  for  a  fool;  an  oracle  like  that,  which  faid, 
the  wifdom  of  this  world  is  foolifhnefs  with 
God. 

If  you  afk  what  is  the  apoftafy  of  thefe  laft 
times,  or  whence  is  all  the  degeneracy  of  the 
prefent  Chriflian  church,  it  mull  be  placed  to  a 
worldly  fpirit  If  here  you  fee  open  wicked- 
nefs,  there  only  form  of  godlinefs,  if  here  fii- 
periicial  holinefs,  political  piety,  there  haughty 
i'anclity,  partial  zeal,  if  almofl  every  where, 
you  fee  a  Jewifh  blindnefs,  and  hardnefs  of 
heart,  and  the  church  trading  with  the  gofpel, 
as  vifibly,  as  the  old  Jews  bought  and  fold 
beads  in  their  temple,  all  this  is  only  fo  many 
forms,  and  proper  fruits  of  the  woddly  ipirit. 
This  is  the  great  net,  with  which  the  devil  be- 
comes a  fifher  of  men;  and  be  allured  of  this, 
that  every  ion  of  man  is  in  this  net,  till  through, 
and  by  the  Spirit  of  Chi  ill:  he  breaks  out  of  it. 
C  I  fay 


(     *6     ) 

I  fay  the  Spirit  of  Chrift,  for  nothing  elfe  can 
deliver  him  from  it.  If  you  truft  to  any  kind 
or  form  of  religious  obfervances,  to  any  kind 
of  learning,  or  effort  of  human  prudence,  and 
then  I  will  tell  you  what  your  cafe  will  be,  you 
will  overcome  one  temper  of  the  world,  only 
and  merely  by  cleaving  to  another:  For  nothing 
can  overcome  or  renounce  the  world,  but  fing- 
ly  and  folely  the  Spirit  of  Chrift.  Hence  it  is, 
that  many  learned  men  with  all  the  rich  furni- 
ture of  their  brain  live  and  die  Haves  to  the 
fpirit  of  this  world,  the  Spirit  of  Chrift  is  not 
the  only  thing  that  is  the  jj&ire  of  their  hearts, 
and  therefore  their  learning  only  works  in  and 
with  the  fpirit  of  this  world,  and  becomes  it- 
ielf  no  fmall  parts  of  the  vanity  of  vanities. 

Would  you  know  the  evil  nature  and  effect, 
of  a  fpirit  given  up  to  the  world,  and  not  fub- 
jected  to  the  Spirit  of  Grace;  you  need  only 
look  at  the  blefFed  effect  of  a  continual  Mate  of 
watching,  a  continual  humble  application  to 
God  in  the  true  fpirit  of  prayer,  for  the  one 
goes  downwards  with  the  fame  ftrength,  as  the 
other  goes  upward,  the  one  betroths,  and  weds 
to  an  earthly  nature,  with  the  fame  certainty, 
as  the  other  efpoufes,  and  unites  to  Chrift.  The 
fpirit  of  continual  watchings  and  prayer,  is  a 
preffing  forth  of  the  foul  out  of  this  earthly 
life,  it  is  a  ftretchmg  with  all  its  defire  after 
the  life  of  God,  it  is  a  leaving  as  far  as  it  can, 
all  its  own  fpirit,  to  receive  a  fpirit  from  above, 
to  be  one  life,  one  love,  one  fpirit  with  Chrift 
in  L .-,od.  This  prayer,  which  is  an  emptying 
iitfelf  of  all  its  own  lulls  and  natural  tempers, 

and 


(  27  ) 

and  an  opening  itfelf  for  the  light  and  love  of 
God  to  enter  into  it,  is  the  prayer  in  the  Name 
of  Qhrift,  to  which  nothing  is  denied;  for  the 
love  which  God  bears  to  the  foul,  is  an  eternal 
never  ceafing  dedre  to  open  the  birth  of  his 
holy  word  and  fpirit  in  it,  and  flays  no  longer 
till  the  door  of  the  heart  open  for  Him;  and 
nothing  does  or  can  keep  God  out  of  the  foul, 
or  hinder  his  union  with  it,  but  -the.  defire  of 
the  heart  turned  from  it,  What  the  foul  de- 
fireth,  that  is  the  fe.wel  of  its  fire,  and  as  its 
fewel  is,  fo  is  the  flame  of  its  life.  As  we  low 
we  fhall  reap;  if  to  the  fpirit,  we  (hall  reap  life 
and  peace;  if  to  the  flefli,  we  fhall  of  the  flefh 
reap  corruption.  Wherever  and  in  whatfoever 
the  will  chufeth  to  dwell  and  delight,  that  be- 
cometh  the  foul's  food,  its  cloathing  and  habi- 
tation. Since  this  is  the  cafe,  let  us  flop  a  while, 
let  our  hearing  be  turned  into  feeling.  Let  us 
confider,  whether  there  is  any  thing  in  life,  that 
deferves  a  thought,  but  how  to  keep  in  a  con- 
tinual (fate  of  watching  and  prayer,  that  we 
may  attain  to  that  purity  of  heart,  which  alone 
can  fee,  find  and  poffefs  God. 


WHAT  caufe  can  be  affigned  for  the  op- 
pofition  to  Gofpel-truths  that  appears 
amongft  us,  and  for  that  didike  to  thofe,  who 
urge  the  neceility  of  regeneration  and  of  the 
fpiritual  life?  The  true  reafon  is  nigh  at  hand, 
tho'  others  are  pretended:  Such  doctrines  are 
contrary  to  the  maxims  and  principles  that  go- 
vern the  hearts  and  conduct  of  the  children  of 

this 


(       28       ) 

this  generation,  are  at  variance  with  the  falfe 
interefts  of  flefh  and  blood,    declare  open  war 
againft  the  kingdom  of  Self,  and  flrike  at  eve- 
ry thing  that  is  moft  near  and  dear  to  corrupt 
nature;  and  therefore  carnal  men  of  every  de- 
nomination think  themfelves  concerned  in  cha- 
racter to  oppofe  and  difcredit  fuch  a  reprefenta- 
tion  of  Chriftianity.     They  can  be  zealous  for 
opinions,    forms,    and  an   external  worfhip  of 
any  kind,  be.caufe  they  leave  them  in  quiet  pof- 
feffiori   of    their  ambition,    their  covetoufnefs, 
their  love  of  themfelves,  and  their  love  of  the 
world:    They  can   readily  take  up  a  profeflion 
of  faith  in  a  iuffering  Saviour,  nay  bring  them- 
felves to   trufl  in   an  outward  covering  of  his 
Merits  and  Righteoumefs  for  Salvation,  becaufe 
this  cods  them  nothing;  but  to  be  cloathed  with 
his  fpirit  of  humility,  poverty  and   felf-denial ; 
to  renounce   their  own  wills  in  his  lowlinefs, 
meeknefsf  and  total  refignation  to  the  will  of 
God,  to  mortify  the  flefhly  appetites;  to  be  cru- 
cified to   the  world;  to  ftrip  themfelves  of  all 
complacency  and   fatisfaccion  in  thofe  endow- 
ments, whether  natural  or  acquired,  which  ap- 
pear great  and  glorious   in   the  eyes   both  of 
themfelves  and  others;  and,  in  a  word,  to  take 
up  their  crofs,    and    nakedly    follow    a   naked 
Chrift  in  the  regeneration:  Thefe  are  hard  fay- 
ings,    they  cannot  bear  them:    But  wifdom  is 
juftified  of  her  children;   unacceptable  as  thefe 
doctrines  are   to   others,   yet  to   them,  and  in 
them  too,  they  are  the  power  of  God,  and  the 
wifdom  of  God.     It  was  by  fuch  foolifhnefs  of 
preaching  that  ChrilTs  kingdom  iirft  prevailed 

over 


(       29       ) 
over  the  kingdoms  of  this  world;  and  it  mud 
be  by  the  fame  doctrine,  under  the  influence  of 
the  fame  fpirit,    that  ue  can  only  hope  for  its 
continuance  to  the  end  of  it.  • 

The  way  to  any  good  degree  of  perfection 
in  the  divine  lire,  lies  thro'  great  mortification  '- 
and  fdf-deniai-  Some  think  it  enough  to  get 
doctrines  into  the  head;  but  till  the  heart  is  in 
fome  meafure  purified  by  faith,  nothing  is  right- 
ly done;  and  in  order  to  this,  the  children  of 
Anak,  (thoie  corrupt  paffions  and  inclinations, 
that  war  againit  the  foul)  rnuft  be  driven  out, 
the  peivcrienefs  of  the  will  broken,  the  under- 

'..ftanding' .  Amplified,4  the  pride  of  our  hearts 
phickt  up  by  the  roots,  and  all  the  cords  that  - 
bind  us  to  the  world,  and  the  things  of  it,  un- 
t wilted;  in  a  Aord,  our  idols  muft  be  caft  out, 
and  every  curled  thing  removed  that  feparates 
bet  ixt  God  and  us;  for  the  pure  in  heart,' and 
they  only,  shall  lee  God.'  It  was  by  this  kind 
of  holy  violence  practiied  on  themselves,  that 
the  worthies  both  of  the  Old  and  New  Telia- 
ment,  in  ail  ages  of  the  church,  have  laid  hold  i 
on  the.  kingdom  pf, heaven,  been  favoured  with 
fuch  rich  communications  from  God,  and  ena- 
bled to  work  fuch  wonders  as  furpafs  the  belief 
of  many  in  this  degenerate  incredulous  age: 
And  that  a  preparatory  difcipline  of  ftrictnefs 
and  feverity  is  neceffary  in  order  to  qualify  us 

.for  any  extraordinary  vouchfafements  of  illu- 
mination and  grace,  we  may  learn  from  the 
fchoois  initituted  among  the  Jews  for  the  train- 
ing up  of  perfons  for  the  prophetic  office,  where 
they  were  educated  in  great  abftradion  from  the 
C  2  .:  ,.  worlds  g 


(  3o  j 
world,  in  the  government  of  their  pafiions,  and 
liie  mortification  of  their  natural  propeniions, 
that  being  (o  difengaged  from  the  common  im- 
pediments of  a  holy  life,  they  might  be  more 
at  liberty  for  devotion  and  the  contemplation 
of  heavenly  things,  and  by  luch  previous  exer- 
cifes  become  fit  mftruments  for  the  holy  Spirit, 
and  more  receptive  of  heavenly  wifdom.  Thus 
came  they  out  holy  enthuliafts,  men  of  God 
furnifhed  to  every  good  word  and  woik,  fcribes 
well  inftrucled  unto  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 
and  fearlefs  of  giving  offence  in  the  way  of  duty, 
even  before  kings,  being  no  lels  qualified  for 
reproof  and  correction,  than  for  doctrine  and 
inft ruction  in  righteoufnefs;  patterns  thefe  for 
al!  perfons  of  a  religious  character,  whether  they 
live  in  colleges  or  in  kings  houfes;  whether  they 
attend  on  thofe  who  go  cloathed  in  purple  and 
.fine  linnen,  and  fare  fumptuoufly  every  day, 
or  are  called  forth  to  a  more  promifcuous  em- 
ployment of  their  office;  for  tho'  the  difpenfa- 
tion  of  prophecy,  as  it  refpects  the  foietelling 
luture  events,  has  mjii  i^  f  iiiii  ceafed  in  the 
church,  yet  the  character  of  prophets  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  declarers  of  God's  word  and  will,  and 
as  denouncers  of  his  judgments  on  all  impeni- 
rtents,  even  the  moft  dignified  offenders,  is  ne- 
ver to  ceafe  in  it,  neither  is  the  Lord's  hand 
Ihortned  that  it  cannot  extend  comfort  and  cou- 
rage, light  and  direction  for  thefe  purpofes  now 
as  formerly:  But,  alas!  our  hearts  are  (trait ned 
that  they  cannot  receive  it  as  they  ought,  and 
we  are  io  entangled,  as  to  many  of  us,  with 
fuch  an  evil  covetoufnefs  after  the  things  of  this 

life, 


(  3i  ) 
life,  fo  ftudious  to  feek  the  honour  that  cometh 
of  man,  more  than  the  honour  that  cometh  of 
God,  that  we  want  boldnefs  to  hold  the  faith 
of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  without  refpecr.  of  per- 
fons:  For  let  men  be  never  fo  highly  titled  or 
charactered,  let  their  pretenfions  to  learning  be 
what  they  will,  and  their  acquaintance  with 
creeds,  canons  and  commentators  never  fo  ex- 
tenfive,  yet  fo  long  as  they  continue  men  of 
this  world,  and  follow  the  things  of  it,  fo  long 
as  their  affections  are  fet  on  things  beneath,  and 
their  hearts  unfurrendered  to  God,  they  are  not 
better  than  dry  bones  as  to  the  divine  life,  with- 
out marrow  or  moifture;  and  as  they  cannot 
in  luch  a  ftate  receive  the  things  of  the  Spirit 
of  God,  not  having  fpiritual  ienfes  exercifed- 
thereto,  fo  will  thefe  things  of  courfe  appear 
foolifhoefs  unto  them  in  others,  and  they  will 
ipeak  evil  of  that  which  they  know  not.  It  is 
from  a  revival  of  the  fpirit  of  true  Chriftianity 
in  the  hearts  of  men  alone,  that  we  can  hope 
to  fee  peace  reftpred  on  earth  among  the  divided 
churches  of  Chriitendom.  Whilif.  religion  re- 
fides  only  in  the  reafoning  part  of  man,  it  is 
tinctured  with  all  the  prejudices  and  pafiions  of 
his  nature,  and  his  reakm  will  be  ready  to  plead 
for,  or  againft  the  truth,  as  intereft  or  educa- 
tion fways  him — But  the  wifdom  that  is  from 
above  is  firft  pure,  then  peaceable,  gerltle,  full 
of  mercy,  and  without  partiality;  for  the  fame 
good  fpirit  that  enlightens  the  underftanding, 
cleanfes  the.  heart  of  all  bittertnefs,  malice,  and 
hypocrify,  and  therefore  operates  by  purenefs, 
by  knowledge,  by  love  unfeigned, 

THERE 


(     3^     ) 

HERE  is  a  communion  of  Saints  in  the 

x.  U>ve  of  God  which  no  one  can  leain,  from 
'what  is  called  Orthodoxy  in  the  different  Sects, 
bur  is  'only  to  be  had  by  a  total  dying  to  woildly 
view>,  by  a  pure  love  of  G:  d  and  by  fuch  an 
unction  from  above,  as  delivers  the  mind' from 
fe!ti(h:iefs,  and  makes  it  love  truth  and  goodnefs 
with  an  equality  of  iffecbon  in  every  man,  let 
his  name  and  profeffi  *n  to  Reh  ion  be  what  it 
may.  it  is  by  thus  uniting  in  heart  and  (pint,  . 
wi  h  all  that  is  holy  and  good,  in  all  profeffions 

'"that  we  cnttv  into  the  true  communion  of  faints, 
and  become  real  members  of  the  univerfal  Chuf- 
tfaxi  Church  ;  as  the  Angels,  who  are  mmiitnng 
fpiifts,  aiTut  join,  unite  and  co  operate  with  eve- 
ry thing  that  is:holy  and  good,  in  every  diviiion 

;  :0f 'm'an'kinci.  ■ 

** "The  real  ChriftianY  heart  is  tendered  and 
i:  enlarged,  toward*  all  that  come  within  the 
6i  embrace  of  his  charity,  which  is  as  wide  as 
"  the  eatt  is  from  the  well  He  cannot  wrangle 
"  arid  hate  about  difference  of  opinion,  foi  he 
"  is  got  above  them;  his  call,  his  univerfal  call 
€*  is  love,  and  he  has  adopted  that  laying  of 
Ci  Luther,  Li  wbr?nfcever  I  fee  a?iy  th'mgcj  Chrift9  , 
c ;  him  I  love .  Lit H i s  rn  a n ,  w  h e  r e  1  o e v e  r  h  e  i i v e s , 
cu  and  by  what  name  ft  ever  he  is  called,  the 
c;  kingdom  of  Chriii  is  come,  and  of  fuch  hea- 
Ci '■  venly  men  and  women  ir  will  confiit  in  that 
"enlarged  gorious  ftate,  which  we  are  given 
"  to4 look  for.5' 

"  The  one  true  Church  of  Chrift  is  the  com- 

"  munio'n.  of  Saints,  and  cha  ity;  true  charity, 

«  i.  e.    The  love  of  Chrift  is  the  hie  and  foul  of  it. 

■    .......  AN 


(     33     ) 
©*************© 

*  A  *N  eminent  fervant  of  GOD,  who  had 
XjL  known  deliverance  from  the  dark  powers, 
and  experimentally  felt  the  powers  of  the  world 
to  come,  a  few  hours  before  his  death,  expref- 
fed  himfelf  in  the  following  words:  "  There  is 
"  a  fpirit  which  I  feel,  that  delights  to  do  no 
"  evil,  nor  to  revenge  any  wrong,  but  delights 
"  to  endure  all  things,  in  hopes  to  enjoy  its  own 
"  in  the  end;  its  hope  is  to  outlive  all  wrath 
"  and  contention,  and  to  weary  out  all  exalta- 
tion and  cruelty,  or  whatfoever  is  of  a  na- 
ture contrary  to  itfelf;  it  fees  to  the  end  of 
all  temptations;  as  it  bears  no  evil  in  itfelf, 
fo  it  conceives  none  in  thought  to  any  other; 
for  its  ground  and  fpring  is  the  mercies  and 
forgivenefs  of  God;  its  crown  is  meeknefs; 
its  life  is  everlafiing  love  unfeigned,  and 
takes  its  kingdom  with  intreaty,  and  not 
with  contention,  and  keeps  it  by  lowlinefs  of 
"  mind;  in  God  alone  it  can  rejoice,  though 
"  none  elfe  regard  it,  or  can  own  its  life;  'tis 
<c  conceived  in  forrow,  and  brought  forth  with- 
"  out  any  to  pity  it,  nor  cloth  it  murmur  at 
<c  grief  and  oppreffions;  it  never  rejoiceth  but 
<s  through  fuxterings,  for  with  the  world's  joy 
«c  it  is  murdered.  I  found  it  alone,  being  for-. 
"  faken:  I  have  fellow  fhip  therein  with  thofe 
"  that  lived  in  dens  and  ciefolate  places  of  the 
"  earth,  who  through  death  obtained  refurrec-. 
"  tioa  and  eternal  noly  life,5' 


(     34     ) 

Serious  Refleclions  affeclionately  recoimriended 
to  the  Well-d'ippofed  of  every  Religious  De- 
nomination, particularly  thofe  <who  Mourn 
and  Lament  on  account  of  the  Calamities 
which  attend  us ;  and  the  infeiifibility  that 
fo  generally  prevails. 

IF  People  had  never  feen  War  kindled  in  a 
Country  and  between  neighbouring  Nati- 
ons, they  could  hardly  believe  that  men  would 
be  fb  inattentive  to  the  dictates  of  Reaion,  the 
tender  feelings  of  humanity  and  the  more  fub- 
lime  nature  and  precepts  of  the  Gofpel,  *  as  de- 
liberately to  engage  in  battle  for  the  deftruction 
of  each  other.  That  loaded  as  men  are  with 
their  own  frailties  and  m'iferies,  they  mould  in- 
duftrioufly  labour  to  encreafe  them  and  con- 
trive new  ways  for  the  rum  and  flaughter  one 
of  another.  They  have  but  a  (hort  and  uncer- 
tain time  to  live,  a  work  of  the  greater!:  im- 
portance to  perform,  f  and  yet  will  not  fuffer 
thofe  awful  moments  to  pafs  away  in  peace. 

"  Wars, 

♦  Mat.  v.  44.  Love  your  Enemies,  blefs  them  that 
curfe  you;  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray 
for  them  which  defpitefully  ufe  you  and  perfecute 
you;  that  ye  may  be  the  Children  of  your  Father 
which  is  in  Heaven. 

f  Philip,  ii.  12.  Work  out  your  own  Salvation  with 
fear  and  trembling. — For  what  is  a  man  profited  if 
he  gain  the  whole  world,  and  loie  his  own  Soul, 


(     35     ) 

"  Wars,  fays  an  Antient  Father,  are  Spectacles 
*c  by  which  the  devil  doth  cruelly  fport  with 
"  Mankind."  And  Bifhop  Taylor  well  ob- 
ferves.  "  That  as  contrary  as  cruelty  is  to  mer- 
Xi  cy;  tyranny  to  charity,  fo  is  War  and  Biood- 
"  fhed  to  the  Meeknefs  and  Gentlenefs  of  the 
"  Chriftian  Religion. "  The  apoftle  James  hath 
clearly  anfwered  the  queftion  with  refpecT:  to  the 
occafion  of  War  chap,  iv.  i.  "  From  whence 
"  come  Wars  and  Fightings  amongfl  you?  come 
"  they  not  hence  even  of  your  luRs?"  How 
extreme  then  muft  be  that  corruption  which 
produces  fo  defperate  an  effecl.  It  is  now  feve- 
ral  years  fince  the  hand  of  God  has  been  lifted 
up  in  Judgment;  great  diflrefs  and  fufferings 
have  and  frill  do  attend  us;  multitudes  of  our 
Fellow-men  have  been  hurried  into  Eternity, 
and  yet  the  People  do  not  appear  humbled  nor 
careful  to  inquire  into  the  true  caufe.  Sin- 
ners are  chaftifed,  and  yet  remain  unconverted. 
Let  us  look  no  where  elfe  but  in  ourfelves 
for  the  caufe  of  our  miferies;  our  Sins  are  our 
greateft  Enemies  and  draw  upon  us  all  the  refh 
We  fight  againft  thofe  we  efleem  our  Foes,  and 
inflead  of  labouring  to  overcome  our  fins,  we 
baiely,  yield  to  their  temptations. 

It  is  the  Sighing  and  Supplications  of  the 
contrite  hearted  which  God  will  hear,  and  when 
his  anger  is  paffed  over,  He  will  remember  his 
former  mercies.  Let  us,  beloved  Brethren,  not 
forget  our  profeflion  as  Chriftians;  nor  the  blef- 
fing  piomiied  by  Chritt  to  the  Peace-makers  * 

but 
*  Mat.  v    9.     BK- fled  are  the   Peace-makers;    for  they 

ihall  be  called  the  Children  of  God. 

r 


(  36  ) 
but  let  all  fincerely  addrefs  our  common  Father 
for  ability  to  pray,  not  for  the  deftru&ion  of 
our  Enemies,  who  are  dill  our  Brethren,  the 
Purchafe  of  our  bleffed  Redeemer's  blood ;  but 
for  an  agreement  with  them.  Nor  in  order  to 
indulge  our  paflions  in  the  Gain  and  Delights 
of  this  vain  World,  and  forget  that  we  are 
called  to  be  as  Pilgrims  and  Strangers  in  it; 
but  that  we  may  be  more  comppfed  and  better 
fitted  for  the  kingdom  of  God;  that  in  the 
difpenfations  of  his  good  p'eafure  he  may  grant 
us  fuch  a  Peace,  as  may  prove  to  the  confo- 
lation  of  the  Church,  as  well  as  the  Nation, 
and  be  on  earth  an  image  of  the  tranquillity  of 
Heaven.  * 


B 


*  Our  Saviour  enjoins  us  to  pray  to  our  Father, 
Mat.  vi.  10.  Thy  will  be  done  on  Earth,  as  it  is 
done  in  Heaven — forgive  us  our  Debts,  as  we  forgive 
our  Debtors, 


The  bleffed  Effecl  of  a  Holy  Life  and 
Daily  Conversation  ivith  GOD, 
exemplified  in  ajhort  Extracl  of  the  Life 
tf/ARMELLE  NICOLAS,  a  poor 
ignorant  Country  Maid. 

To   the     READER. 

THE  perfon,  whofe  daily  converfation  is 
here  defcribed,  was  not  long  finee  a  poor 
fimple  country  maid,  and  fervant  to  a  great 
family  in  France.  The  whole  courfe  of  her 
life  was  very  inflructive,  and  a  mod  mining 
pattern  of  a  true  fpiritual  converfation.  The 
particulars  here  related  are  taken  out  of  the 
1 8/6  chapter  of  the  fecond  part  of  her  Lifer 
giving  great  encouragement  to  a  daily  and 
uninterrupted  converfation  with  God,  and  to 
walk  before  him  as  the  omniprefent  Lord  and 
Father. 

If  we  knew  nothing  elfe  of  Chriflianityy 
nor  any  other  exercife  but  this,  to  fpend  one 
day  after  another  in  this  manner,  it  would  be 
fufncient.  'Tis  very  remarkable,  that  this 
perfon,  who  ferved  God  with  unwearied  pray- 
er and  watch f  ulnefs,  was  fo  ignorant,  that  £he 
could  neither  read  nor  write,  and  withal  a 
fervant,  conftantly  employed  in  bufinefs  and 
hard  labour.  By  this  we  fee  that  the  true 
fervice  of  God  is  fpiritual,  universal,  plain  and 
eafy,  fo  that  no  perion  can  be  excufed  from 
it  by  any  pretence  whatfoever. 


(  %  ) 

A     Christian's    Daily    Converfation 
-with  GOD. 

AS  foon  as  I  wake  in  the  morning,  faith 
Jbe,  I  throw  myfelf  into  the  arms  of  my 
heavenly  Love,  as  a -child  into  the  arms  of  his 
father.  I  rife  with  a  deiign  to  ferve  and  pleafe 
him.  And  if  1  have  time  to  pray,  I  fall  upon 
my  knees  in  his  holy  prefence,  and  fpeak  to 
him,  as  if  1  really  faw  him  with  my  bodily 
eyes.  I  give  myfelf  up  wholly  to  him,  and 
deilre  him  to  fulfil  all  his  holy  will  in  me,  and 
that  he  would  not  fuffer  me  that  day  to  do  the 
leatl  thing  which  might  be  ofTenfive  to  him. 
Then  1  recommend  to  him  all  the  prayers 
which  fhall  be  made  that  day.  In  fhort:  I 
love  and  praife  him  as  much  and  as  lon£  as 
my  affair!  permit;  tho'  very  often  I  have  hard- 
ly fo  much  time  as  to  fay  the  Lord's  prayer. 
But  I  do  not  trouble  myfelf  about  that;  for 
I  nave  God  always  in  my  heart,  as  well  when 
I  am  about  my  buiinefs,  which  I  do  in  obedi- 
ence to  his  will,  as  when  I  retire  on  purpofe 
to  pray  to  him.  This  he  himfelf  has  taught 
nie,  that  whatever  I  do  out  of  love  to  him,  is 
a  real  prayer. 

I  drefs  myfelf  in  his  prefence,  and  he  fhews 
Hie  that  his.  love  fupplies  me  with  raiment. 
And  when  I  go  about  my  bufinefs,  even  then 
doth  he  not  forfake  me,  nor  I  him,  but  he 
converies  with  me,  and  I  with  him;  yea,  I 
am  then  as  much  united  to  him,  as  when  I  am 

at 


(  3  ) 
at  my  prayers,  fet  apart  on  purpofe  for  my  fpi- 
ritual  recollection.  O!  how  fweet  and  eafy  is 
all  labour  and  toil  in  fuch  good  company! 
Sometimes  I  perceive  fuch  ftrength  and  fup- 
port  in  my  mind,  that  nothing  is  too  hard  for. 
me,  and  I  think  myfelf  alone  able  to  manage 
the  affairs  of  the  whole  family.  Nothing  but 
the  body  is  at  work,  the  heart  and  myfelf 
burn  with  love  in  the  fweet  familiarity  I  en- 
tertain with   God. 

When  I  am  about  my  bufinefs  in  the  day- 
time, running  up  and  down,  till  the  body 
begins  to  be  weary,  or  to  repine,  or  to  defire 
unfeafonable  reft,  being  oppreffed  with  anger 
and  uneafinefs,  my  divine  love  enlightens  me 
forthwith,  and  mews  me,  how  I  ought  to 
fupprefs  thofe  rebellious  motions  of  corrupt; 
nature,  and  not  to  nouriih  them  at  all,  either 
by  word  or  deed.  This  love  keeps  the  door 
of  my  lips,  and  watches  over  my  heart,  that 
.it  may  not  in  the  lead  contribute  to  fuch  irre- 
gular paflions,  which  thus  are  crufhed  and 
fubdued  as  foon  as  they  rife. 

But  if,  at  any  time,  for  want  of  care,  I  am 
furprifed  with  thefe  or  the  like  faults,  I  cannot 
be  at  reft,  till  I  have  obtained  pardon,  and 
God  be  reconciled  to  me.  I  lie  proftrate  be-, 
fore  his  foot-ftool,  confefling  all  my  faults  to 
him,  as  if  he  did  not  know  them  already  ; 
and  there  I  continue,  till  he  has  forgiven  me, 
renewed  his  frienclfhip  with  me,  and  confirmed 
it  more  than  before.  For  fo  it  always  happens 
through  his  infinite  mercy,  whenever  I  have 
committed  a  fault,  which,  ferves  but  to  inflame 

my 


(     4     ) 

my  heart  more  and  more  with  his  divine  love. 
If  people  perfecute  me,  and  by  foul  and  un- 
charitable cenfures  raife  fcandals  upon  me,'  or 
any  other  way  afRicl;  me;  or  if  evil  f pints  attack 
me  with  their  crafty  and  cunning  temptations, 
I  then  prefently  run  to  my  heavenly  Love, 
who  readily  flrefches  forth  his  f«cred  aims  to 
receive  me,  (hewing  me  his  heart  and  wounds 
open  for  my  fecurity  ;  in  which  I  hide  myfelf 
as  in  a  flrong  caflle  and  fortreis.  And  then 
I  am  fo  mightily  ftrengthned,  that  if  the 
whole  army  of  heil  itfeif,  together  with  all 
the  creatures,  fhould  rife  up  again  ft  me,  I 
fear  them  no  more  than  a  fly,  becaufe  1  am 
under  the  protection  of  the  moft  high  God, 
his  love  being  the  hiding-place  and  fafe-guard 
of  my  foul. 

If  God  at  any  time  hides  his  face,  making 
as  if  he  would  go  away  from  me,  I  tell  him  j 
44  O!  'tis  no  matter,  my  Love,  conceal  thy- 
<;  felf  as  much  as  thou  pleafeft,  neverthelefs 
•"  I'll  ferve  thee ;  for  I  know  thou  art  my 
*c  God."  And  then  I  ftand  upon  my  guard 
more  than  ever,  to  be  faithful  to  him,  for  fear 
of  difpleafing  my  Love.  And  at  the  fame 
time  perceiving  the  greatnefs  of  my  mifery 
and  poverty,  1  infift  the  more  upon  the  merits 
of  our  Saviour,  and  refolve  to  reft  contented, 
tho'  it  mould  pleafe  him  to  leave  me  all  the 
days  of  my  life  in  fuch  a  condition.  But  he 
never  lets  me  continue  long  under  thefe  cir- 
cumftances,  and  if  I  may  venture  to  fpeak, 
he  cannot  forbear  loving  me3  any  more  than 
1  can  live  without  him. 

If 


(     5     ) 

fit  I  am  perfuaded  to  be  merry  in  company,, 
I  excufe  myfelf.  For  nothing  can  be  compa- 
red to  the  pleaiures  of  my  Love,  which  are 
fo  much  the  fweeter  and  greater,  for  my  with- 
drawing from  all  company  whatfoever.  If 
they  wonder,  how  I  can  flay  always  at  home 
alone,  I  think  within  myfelf:  "  O !  if  yoil 
(i  knew  the  glorious  company  I  have,  you 
*  would  not  lay  that  I  was  alone ;  for  I  am 
"  never  lefs  alone,  than  when  I  have  nobody 
"  with  me." 

The  night  coming  on,  and  every  one  going 
to  reft,  1  frad  reft  only  in  the  arms  of  divine 
Love:  I  fleep leaning  on  his  holy  bread,  like 
a  child  in  his  mother's  bofom.  I  iay,  I  go  to 
fleep,  but  being  Mill  bulled  about  the  love  and 
praifes  of  my  God,  till  I  fall  quite  afleep. 
Many  times  this  Love  roufes  up  ail  my  fenfes, 
fo  that  I  cannot  fleep  the  greateit  part  of  the 
night,  but  I -fpend  it  in  the  embraces  of  the 
lovely  grace  of  God,  which  never  forfakes 
fuch  a  poor  miferable  creature  as  I  am,  but 
preierves  me,  and  takes  fpecial  care  of  me. 

If  in  the  night  the  evil  fpirits  hover  about, 
to  torment  or  to  furpn'fe  me,  (which  often, 
happens)  this  divine  Love  guards  me,  and 
figi  ts  for  me.  Ye^,  it  gives  me  grace  too?  to 
refill  them  couragioufly,  as  if  I  were  awake. 
For  chey  ieldom  continue  long  to  afiault  me3 
unlefs  it  be  in  my  fleep, 

And  this  is  the  life  I  have  led  for  th'efe  twen- 
ty  years    pall,    without   perceiving    the  leaf:: 
change  of  that  love  which   was   poured   ouc 
into  my  heart,    after  my  fincere  conveifion 
A  2U  unto- 


i     6    ) 

pnto  him.  Nay,  I  have  obferved  its  daily 
increase,  tho'  every  day  it  feemed  impollihle 
to  endure  any  addition  to  wha»  I  already  en- 
joyed. But  truly,  it  is  an  infinite  love,  which 
Satisfies  and  nourifhes  me,  fo  that  every  day  I 
have  a  new  hunger,  tho*  methinks  I  can  re- 
ceive no  more,  than  what  I  poffefs  already 
every  moment. 

THE  author  of  her  life  fays,  concerning: 
the  manner  of  her  expreflions,  that  they  were 
always  very  modeft,  without  any  noife  or 
vehemence :  her  common  difcourfes  were  al- 
ways holy  and  edifying ;  whereas  others  toe* 
commonly  mis-fpend  their  time  in  ufeleis  con- 
versation and  unprofitable  talk.  If  (he  wa.s  in 
company,  where  they  talked  of  indifferent  or 
evil  things,  fhe  had  the  faculty  of  giving 
them  fuch  a  handfome  turn,  as  to  bi  ing_thtm 
quite  off  from  that,  to  fome  good  and  ufeful 
i'ubjecl. 

For  a  long  while  me  could  bear  no  other 
%  difcourfe  but  of  God  and  his  holy  Love.  / 
cannot  imagine,  faid  fhe,  how  a  foul,  created  for 
heaven,  can  be  concerned  about  the  drofs  of  this 
ivor Id.  From  that  time,  it  fhe  happened  to 
be  in  company,  where  the  fubjeel  of  the  dif- 
courfe was  but  indifferent,  either  fhe  did  not 
mind  it  at  all,  entertaining  herfelf  in  the  mean 
while  with  God  ;  or,  as  foon  as  (he  thought 
it  proper,  fhe  diverted  and  changed  the  dif- 
courfe ;  thinking  it  but  loft  time,  which  was 
fpent  in  the  trifles  of  this  world. 
1  To 


(     7    ) 

To  every  body,  that  had  a  mfnd  to  be  ac- 
quainted with  God  Almighty r  fhe  gave  this 
advice:  "  To  be  fllenfcy  and  to  learn  to  keep 
"  their  thoughts  together  in  the  center  of  the 
"  heart:  for  this  (laid  fhe)  is  the  beginning  of 
Ci  our  union  with  God,  and  by  there  means 
ftC  the  foul  forgets  earthly  things,  and  raifes 
"  herfelf  up  to  the  contemplation  of  heavenly 
*fr  objects..  We  ought  to  lofe  our  familiarity 
t;  with  the  creatures,  if  we  defrre  to  enjoy 
"  the  eonverfation  of  the  Creator ;  a  moment 
"  of  which  doth  afford  more  delight  and 
"  fatihfaclion,  than  ail  the  fin  eft  difcourfes  in 
*  the  worlds* 

One  time  when  her  miftrefs  was  afraid  that 
Armelle  was  like  to  run  quite  mad  by  an  excefs 
of  devotion,  fhe  forbad  her  all  fpiritual  exer- 
cifes  and  would  not  let  her  go  even  to  church,, 
excepr  on  the  Lord's  day  onlyr  Annette^  being 
feniible  of  the  falie  ftep  her  miftrefs  took,  fmi- 
led  within  hcrfelfy  faying-,  "■  Truly  I  am  not 
Jf  mad,  alter  I  have  found  my  Beloved,  whom; 
"  1  now  love  with  all  my  heart.  I  remember 
"  a  time  when  1  was  feeking  only  God  with- 
"  out  me,  and  then  I  was  mad  indeed"."  This 
miftrefs  of  her's  being  of  a  four  and  morofe 
humour,  fhewed  a  deal  of  ill- nature  toArmelIeT 
of  which,  however,  fhe  never  complained, 
but  rather  thanked  God,  that  he  was  pleaied 
to  make  this  a  means  of  her  fuller  purification. 

"  If  (faid  (he)  the  foul  be  but  well  ground- 
"  ed  in  the  favour  of  God,  and  lively  affected 
*;  with  the  operations  of  his  grace,  all  the  in- 

"  fults 


(  8  ) 
cs  fiilts  of  the  devil,  and  of  the  creature,  arc 
"  borne  with  joy  and  comfort.  But  this  is 
"  mifery  indeed,  when  the  Lord  himfelf  ■•  itfc- 
"  draws  from  the  foul,  and  lets  her  fhift  for 
€C  herfelf.  Then  fhe  thinks,  that  every  ftep 
"  is  a  ftep  into  fin  and  corruption,  being  ut- 
"  terly  unable  to  protect  herfelf    againft  it."' 

In  what  company  foever  (he  was,  fhe  talked 
of  nothing  more,  than  of  being  faithful  to 
God.  Nothing  dropped  more  from  her  mouth,, 
than,  Let  us  be  faithful,  let  us  be  faithful  to  the 
Lord.  This  word  the  thought  fit  for  any  time, 
and  fuitable  to  every  company.  Now.  and 
then  flie  would  repeat  it  an  hundred  times 
over;  and  being  afked  by  her  friends,  whether 
fhe  had  nothing  elfe  to  fay?  She  anfweied: 
"  Dont  wonder  at  my  faying  this  over  and 
. u  over  again.  If  I  ihould  live  a.thoufand  years, 
"  I  fhould  flill  tell  you  the  fame  thing.  For 
"  'tis  faithfulnefs,  wherein  the  perfection  of 
"  a  Chriftian  life  cpnfifls^ 

Of  the  conftraining  power  of  the  divine 
love  flie  has  the  following  expreflion:  "  When- 
;*-"  ever  I  happened  to  adhere  a  little  too  much 
"  to  my  natural  inclinations,  (apt  to  fteal  in 
"  upon  the  mind  under  the  fpecious  pretence 
"  of  neceflity)  I  was  immediately  reproved 
"  by  the  love  of  God.  This  divine  love  is 
"  like  a  careful  tutor,  who  takes  ail  the  pains 
u  imaginable,  for  advancing  his  pupil  in  the 
tc  way  of  learning  he  is  engaged  in;  and  for 
"  this  reafon  keeps  his  eye  conilantly  fixed 
"  on  him,  both  to  correct  his  failings,  though. 
w  never  fo  final!/  and  to  prevent  his  being 
.v  -  "  led 


(  9  ) 
4!  led  away  by  any  thing  that  might  divert 
64  him  from  his  chief  employment.  Thus  fays 
U  fbe,  dealt  the  Lord  with  me.  He  kept  me 
"  clofely  confined  to  an  holy  awe  and  wari- 
<c  nefs;  and  when  I  happened  by  one  over- 
"  fight  or  other  to  withdraw,  as  it  were,  from 
fiC  his  eye,  he  in  that  very  moment  purfued 
*«  after  me,  and  recalled  me  to  my  duty.  But 
"  all  this  was  done  with  fo  much  love  and 
"  tendernefs,  that  it  mull  be  a  heart  of  brafs3 
"  if  not  mollified  by  fuch  endearing  marks 
ts  of  love  and  kind  nefs." 

No  fooner  was  (he  convinced  of  the  will  of 
God,  but  was  very  earneft  and  diligent,  to 
anfwer  it  prefently.  She  often  wondered  at 
fome  people's  dilatory  doings  in  the  fet  vice  of 
God,  and  faid,  it  was  a  cunning  fetch  and 
ftratagem  of  the  devil,  to  make  people  put  oft" 
from  one  day  to  another  fuch  dcfigns  as  might 
ferve  to  advance  the  glory  of  God,  and  the 
good  of  our  fellow  creatures.  "  For,  faid  fhe,. 
P  it  often  happens,  that  that  grace  which  at  one 
¥  hour  offers  itfelf  to  a  man,  in  order  to  fupport  him 
*c  under  fome  difficult  enterprifes,  is  not  fo  eajily 
'*'  met  with  at  another  time.  And  befldes  this, 
"  how  uncertain  is  our  life!  nay,  if  we  were 
*4  fure  to  live  longer,  yet  ought  we  not  to 
&fi  linger  upon  that  account  at  all,  nor  to  de- 
"  fer  from  one  day  to  another  what  might 
tc  be  done  this  day.  A  man  that  is  full  of 
<*  delays  in  the  fervice  of  God,  mull  needs 
"  have  but  little  love  at  the  bottom.  Wher* 
<c  ever  love  is  raifed  to  any  confiderable  degree \ 
w  there  the  foul  cant  refl^    whilft  there-remains 

"  any 


(  io  ) 
■f  any  thing  to  be  done  required  by  the  beloved, 
"  And  this  dilatory  temper,  Jbe  /aid,  was  a 
"  great  impediment  in  the  way  to  perfection. 
."  Many  fouls  were  convinced  of  the  will  of 
"  God,  but  being  too  backward  conitantly 
"  to  ftruggle  againft  the  corrupt  propenfions 
'<  of  their  dull  and  lazy  temper,  they  made 
"  but  a  flow  progrefs  in  the  work  of  religion. 
"  They  fay,  to-morrow,  to-morrow  it  ih  ill 
"  be  done  in  good  earned;  but  that  to-mor- 
_"  row  never  comes.  The  confequence  where- 
"  of  is,  that  the  longer  they  flatter  themfelves 
Ci  in  their  diforderly  and  wonted  cuftoms,  the 
"  lefs  able  they  are  to  refift  them  at  lalt  at  all; 
"  the  Lord  leaves  them  now  to  their  own 
"  will,  fince  they  did  not  improve  faithfully 
'v  what  once  they  had  received." 

The  virtue  of  humility  was  as  remarkable 
in  this  holy  maid  as  any  of  the  red;  and  it 
was  grounded  on  a  true  and  folid  foundation 
too.  She  confeffes.  herfelf,  that  the  infinite 
love  of  God  kept  her  undeliled  as  to  the 
vanity  of  pride;  infomuch  that  {lie  did  net 
know  what  pride  and  hau?.htinefs  was.  "  I 
"  was  aftonifhed,  fays  J&e,  when  1  was  told 
"  to  watch  againft  pride;  for  I  thought  whilfl 
"  I  was  well  in  my  wits,  I  could  not  poilibly 
."  be  proud. 

And  this  was  the  reafon,  that  (he  never 
.would  quit  that  manner  of  life  fhe  was  bred 
to,  though  mean  and  contemptible  in  the  eye 
of  the  world. 

,   Even  her  fpiritual  friends  would  now  and 
then  mod  importunately  intreat  her,  to  refig.n 


(  "  ) 

up  to  any  body  elfe  her  place,  (which  was  that 
of  a  fervant)  and  this  under  a  fair  pretence 
too,  viz.  That  fhe  might  have  the  moie  lei- 
sure'to  give  herfelf  up  to  a  contemplative  life, 
and  thus  to  enjoy  the  favours  and  gracious  in- 
fuilons  of  the  Lord  more  abundantly. 

44  She  faid,  her  outward  employment  and 
"  all  the  drudgery  fhe  was  put  to,  did  not 
"  at  all  cool  or  weaken  the  fenfe  of  the  love, 
"  and  of  the  gracious  prefence  of  the  Lord, 
"  me  ufually  enjoyed.  Nay,  the  more  fer- 
"  vent  me  was  to  fpend  herfelf  entirely  in 
*c  works  of  chanty,  cheerfully  complying 
"with  every  thing  incident  to  her  life,  the 
"more  plentiful  incomes  me  had  of  the  love 
"  and  favour  of  God.  Hence,  it  would  be 
"  the  effects  of  a  falfe  heart,  if  one  mould 
"  make  bold  to  quit  his  outward  employment, 
"  in  ord-er  to  gain  more  refl  and  quiet  in  an- 
"  other  place.  God,  fays  fhe,  knows  ways  to 
"  Jind  fouls  wherever  they  be,  if  they  do  not  wiU 
"  fully  Jhut  their  hearts  again]}  him. 

Becaufe  her  love  to  ood  was  fo  great  and 
fervent,  the  love  fhe  bore  to  her  fellow-crea- 
tures was  alfo  wonderfully  influenced  and 
inflamed  theieby.  When  fhe  confidered  the 
wotul  ffate  of  the  wicked,  and  the  dreadful 
judgment  that  is  like  to  befal  them  at  laft, 
fhe  then  felt  a  more  tender  and  commiferating 
love,  and  her  very  bowels  began  to  yearn  for 
compaffion.  When  fhe  looked  upon  the  hap- 
py ftate  fhe  was  arrived  to,  and  the  fevere 
doom  attending  fuch  profligate  wretches,  fhe 
ufed  to  fay,  "  She  feerhed  unto  herfelf  like 
u  one  that  had  been  in  a  great  florm  at  fea, 


(       12       ) 

"  and  by  ftrefs  of  weather  like  to  be  caft  away 
"  every  minute;  but  getting  off  at  laft  iafe 
"  and  found,  remembered  now  afliore  the 
"  dangers  his  brethren  and  near  relations  were 
"  frill  expofed  to,  being  toffed  up  and  down 
"  in  the  huge  ocean,  and  lefr  to  the  mercy 
"  of  the  roaring  billows.  Ala^!  faidfbe,  thus 
"■  it  is  with  me,  when  I  lay  to  .heart  the  dan- 
"  ger  finners  run  themfelves  inco.  For  the 
"  more  endearing  marks  of  divine  grace  the 
"  Lord  has  been  pleaied  to  bellow  upon  me, 
"  the  more  fervent  is  my  defire,  that-  alfo 
"  others  might  partake  ot  the  fame  with  me." 

i  And  now,  ye  learned  meat,  and  refined  wits 
of  the  age,  come  hither  and  amire  the  igno- 
rance and  fimplicity  of  this  poor  country-  maid! 
Confider  how  far  flie  exceeds  your  high  flown 
fuperficial  wifdom.  and  the  dark  flames  of 
human  wit  and  learning?  And  was  it  poflible 
for  her,  to  attain  to  this  heavenly  wifdom  and 
divine  knowledge,  to  Inch  a  nobienefs  and  ele- 
vation of  mind,  without  the  fcraps  and  ailif- 
tance  of  artificial  learning  and  philofophy  ?  then 
truly,  there  mull  be  another  fchool  wherein 
thofe  that  flow  unto  the  Lord,  (Pf.  xxxiv.  5.) 
are  lighted.  Indeed,  to  know  to  love  of  Chrifl, 
faffeth  all  knowledge,  Eph  iii.  19.  Concern- 
ing which  our  Saviour  was  pleafed  thus  to 
exprefs  his  grateful  fentiments  with  hearty 
jo \9  and  heavenly  triumph:  /  thank  thee,  O 
Father!  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  becaufe  thou 
haft  hid  thefe  things  from  the  wife  and  pru- 
dent, and  hajl  revealed  them  unto  babes.  Even 
fo,  Father,  for  fo  it  feemed  good  in  thy  fight, 
Mat.  xi.  25,  2.6. 


THOUGHTS 


m  p  o  n 


SLAVER  X 


By  JOHN    WESLET,     A.M. 

Genesis,    Chap.  iv. 

And  the  "Lord  f aid — What  haft  thou  done  ?  the  voice  of 
.thy  brother's  blood  critth  unto  me  from  the  ground. 


3D® 


LOND  ON,    PRI  NT  ED  : 

Re-printed  in  PHILADELPHIA,  with  notes, 
and  fold  by  Joseph    Crukshank. 


WD,CCjLXXIY, 


[4] 

the  content'  of  the  matter  can  difiblve. 
Neither  in  fome  countries  can  the  mailer 
himfelf  diffolveit,  without  the  content  of 
judges  appointed  by  law.  It  generally 
gives  the  mafter  an  arbitrary  power  of  any 
correction  not  affecting  life  or  limb. — 
Sometimes  even  thefe  are  expoted  to  his 
will :  or  protected  only  by  a  line,  or  fome 
flight  punifhmeut,  too  inficonderable  to 
retrain  a  mailer  of  an  harm  temper.  It 
creates  an  incapacity  of  acquiring  any 
thing,  except  for  the  mailer's  benefit.  It 
allows  the  mafter  to  alienate  the  Have,  in- 
line fame  manner  as  his  cows  and  horfes. 
Laftly,  it  defcends  in  its  lull  extent  from 
parent  to  child,  even  to  the  latefl  gene- 
ration. 

3.  The  beginning  of  this  may  be  dated 
from  the  remoter!  period,  of  which  we 
have  an  account  in  hiftory .  It  commenced 
in  the  barbarous,  ftate  of  fociety,  and  in 
procefs  of  time  fpread  into  all  nations.  It 
prevailed  particularly  among  the  Jews, 
the  Greeks,  the  Romans ,  and  the  antienc 
Germans :  And  was  tranfmitted  by  them 
to  the  various  kingdoms  and  Hates,  which 
arofe  out  of  the  ruins  of  the  Roman  em- 
pire. But  after  chriftianity  prevailed,  it 
gradually  fell  into  decline  in  almoft  all 
parts  of  Europe,  This  great  change  began 
in  Spain,  about  the  end  of  the  eighth  cen- 
tury 


r  si 

ttiry :  And  was  become  general  in  mod 
othpr  kingdoms  of  Europe*  before  the  mid- 
dle of  the  fourteenth. 

4.  From  this  time  ih very  was  nearly 
extinct,  till  the  commencement  of  the  fix-- 
teenth  century,  when  the  difcovery  of 
America*  and  of  the  weftern  and  eaitern 
coafts  of  Africa*  gave  occaiion  to  the  revi- 
val of  it.  It  took  its  rife  from  the  Portu- 
guefe*  who  to  fupply  the  Spaniards  with 
men,  to  cultivate  their  new  poffeffions  in 
America*  procured  negroes  from  Africa  ^ 
whom  they  fold  for  Haves  to  the  American. 
Spaniards.  This  began  in  the  year  1508, 
when  they  imported  the  firft  negroes  into 
Hifpaniola.  In  1540  Charles  the  fifth,  then 
king  of  Spain*  determined  to  put  an  end 
to  negro-f/avery :  Giving  pofitive  orders. 
That  all  the  negro  flaves  in  the  Spanifh 
dominions  mould  be  fet  free.  And  this 
was  accordingly  done  by  Lagafca*  whom 
he  fent  and  im powered  to  free  them  all, 
on  condition  of  continuing  to  labour  for 
their  .mailers.  But  foon  after  Lagafca  re ■ 
turned  to  Spain  May  cry  returned  and  flou- 
rifaed  as  before.  Afterwards  other  na- 
tions, as  they  acquired  poiTefiions  in 
America*  followed  the  examples  of  the 
Spaniards ;  and  flavery  has  now  taken 
deep  root  in  moil  of  our  American  colonies, 
R  '£  II. -Such 


1 6  J 

I 

II.  Such  is  the  nature  of  Havery :  Such 
the  beginning  of  negroflavery  in  America. 
Butfome  may  defire  to  know, what  kind 
of  country  it  is,  from  which  the  negroes 
are  brought  ?  What  fort  of  men,  of  what 
temper  and  behaviour  are  they  in  their 
own  country  ?  And  in  what  manner  they 
are  generally  procured,  carried  to,  and 
treated  m.  America  f 

i.  And  firir,  What  kind  of  country  is 
that  from  whence  they  are  brought  ?  Is  it 
ib  remarkably  horrid,  dreary  and  barren, 
that  it  is  a  kiudnefs  to  deliver  them  out  of 
it  ?  I  believe  many  have  apprehended  fo  : 
But  it  is  an  entire  miftake,  if  we  may  give 
credit  to  thofe  who  have  lived  many  years 
therein,  and  could  have  no  motive  to 
mifreprefent  it. 

2.  That  part  of  Africa  whence  the  ne- 
groes are  brought,  commonly  known  by 
the  ha«me  of  Guinea,  extends  along  the 
eoait,  in  the  whole,  between  three  and 
four  thoufaud  miles.  Erom  the  river  Se.- 
riegal,  (feventeen  degrees  north  of  the  line) 
to  Cape  Sierra  Leona,  it  contains  feven 
hundred  miles.  Thence  it  runs  eaftward 
about  fifteen  hundred  miles,  including  the 
Qrahi'.Goaj},  the  Ivory-CoaJI,  the  Gold-Coaft, 
and  the  Slave-Ccajl,  with  the  large  king- 
dom of  Benin,  From  thence  it  runs  fouth- 
war.d,  about  twelve  hundred  miles,  and 

contains* 


[7] 

contains  the  kingdoms  of  Congo  and  An» 
go! a. 

g\  Concerning  the  firft,  the  Senegal- 
Coaft,  Monf.  Brue,  who  lived  there  fixteen- 
years,  after  defcribing  its  fruitfulnefs  near 
the  fea,  fays,  "  The  farther  you  go  from 
the  fea,  the  more  fruitful  and  well-im- 
proved is  the  country, abounding  in  pulfe, 
Indian  corn,  and  various  fruits.  Here  aro 
vaft  meadows*  which  feed  large  herds  of 
great  and  fmail  cattle.  And  the  villages 
which  lie  thick,  mew  the  country  is  well 
peopled."  And  again  :  M  I  was  fuiprized, 
to  fee  the  land  fo  well  cultivated  ;  fcarcs 
a  fpot  lay  un-improved  :  The  lowlands 
divided  by  fmall  canals,  were  all  fowed 
with  rice:  The  higher  grounds  were  plantr 
ed  with  Indian  corn,  and  peas  of  different 
forts.  Their  beef  is  excellent ;  poultry 
plenty  and  very  cheap,  as  are  all  the  ne~ 
celfaries  of  life." 

4.  As  to  the  Gram  and  Ivory  Goaft^  we 
learn  from  eye  witneffes,  that  the  foil  is 
in  general  fertile,  producing  abundance 
of  rice  and   roots.     Indigo   and    cotton 

thrive  without  cultivation.- Fifh  is  in 

great  plenty  y  the  flocks  and  herds   are 
numerous, and  the  trees  loaded  with  fruit. 

^5.^The  Gold-Coajl  and  S/ave-Coafi,  all 
who  have  feen  it  agree,  is  exceeding  fruit- 
ful and  pleafant,  producing  vaft  quantities 

w 


C  8-  I 

of  rice  and  other  grain,  plenty  of  frurfr 
and  roots,  palm-wine,  and  oil,  and  ilfh  in 
great  abundance,  with  much  tame  and 
wild  cattle.  The  very  fame  account  is. 
given  us  of  the  foil  and  produce  of  the 
kingdoms  of  Benin,  Congo  and  Angola, — 
From  all  which  it  appears,  That  Guinea  in 
general,  far  from  being  an  horrid,  dreary, 
barren  country, is  one  of  the  moft  fruitful, 
as  well  as  the  mod  pleafant  countries  in 
the  known  world.  It  is  faid  indeed  to  be 
unhealthy.  And  fo  it  is  to  ftrangers,  but 
perfectly  healthy  to  the  native  inhabi- 
tants. 

6.  Such  is  the  country  from  which  the 
negroes  are  brought.  We  come  next  to 
enquire,  What  fort  of  men  they  are,  of 
what  temper  and  behaviour,  not  in  our 
plantations,  but  in  their  native  country. 
And  here  like  wife  the  fureft  way  is  to  take 
our  account  from  eye  and  ear  witneffes. 
Now  thole  who  have  lived  in  the  Senegal 
country  obferve,  it  is  inhabited  by  three 
nations,  the  J alofs,  Fu lis,  and  Mandingos. 
The  king  of  the  Jakfs  has  under  him  fe- 
veral  minifters,  who  affift  in  the  exercife 
of  juftice.  The  chief  juilice  goes  in  cir- 
cuit through  all  his  dominions,  to  hear 
complaints  and  determine  controverfies. 
And  the  viceroy  goes  with  him,  to  infpccl: 
the  behaviour  of  the  Alkadi^  or  Governor 

aft 


of  each  village.  The  Fulis  are  a  numerous 
people;  the  foil  of  their  country  reprefent- 
ed  as  rich, affording  large  harv<;ils,and  the 
people  laborious  and  good  farmers :  Of 
fome  of  thefe  Full  blacks  who  dwelt  Oft 
the  river  Gambia,  William  Moor  the  Englifb 
factor  gives  a  very  favourable  account. — 
He  fays,  they  are  governed  by  their  chief 
men,  who  rule  with  much  moderation, 
Few  of  them  will  drink  any  thingitronger 
than  water,  being  Uriel  Mahometans.  The 
government  is  eafy,  becaule  the  people  are 
of  a  good  and  quiet  dilpoution  ;  and  fo 
well  inftructed  in  what  is  right,  that  a 
man  who  wrongs  another  is  the  abomina-* 
tion  of  all. — —They  defire  no  more  land 
than  they  ufe,  which  they  cultivate  with 
great  care  and  induflry  i  If  any  of  them 
are  known  to  be  made  Haves  by  the  white 
men  they  all  join  to  redeem  them.  They 
Bot  only  fupport  all  that  are  old,  or  blind3 , 
or  lame  among  themfelves ;  but  have 
frequently  fupplied  the  neceilities  of  the 
Mandingos,  when  they  were  diftreii  by 
famine. 

7.  The  Mandingos,  fays  Monf.  Brue,  are 
rigid  Mahometans,  drinking  neither  wine 
nor  brandy.  They  are  induflrious  and; 
laborious,  keeping  their  ground  well  cul- 
tivated, and  breeding  a  good  flock  of  cat- 
tle.    Every  town  has  a  governor,  and  he 

appoints- 


[  19  J 

appoints  the  labour  of  the  people.  The 
men  work  the  ground  defigned  for  corn;, 
the  women  and  girls,  the  rice-ground.--. 
He  afterwards  divides  the  corn  and  rice 
among  them:  And  decides  all  quarrels  if 
any  arife.  All  the  Mahometan  negroes 
conftantly  go  to  public  prayers  thrice  a 
day  :  there  being  a  prieft  in  every  village, 
who  regularly  calls  them  together :  Some. 
authors  fay, it  is  furprizingto  fee  the  atten- 
tion and  reverence  which  they  obferve. 
during  their  worfhip. — Thefe  three  nati- 
ons practife  feveral  trades ;  they  have 
fmiths,  fadlers,  potters  and  weavers.  And 
they  are  very  ingenious  at  their  feveraL 

occupations. Their  fmiths  not   only 

make  all  the  initruments  of  iron,  which 
they  have  occafion  to  ufe,  but  likewife 
work  many  things  neatly  in  gold  and 
filver.  It  is  chiefly  the  women  and  chil- 
dren who  weave  fine  cotton  cloth,  which 
they  dye  blue  and  black. 

8.  It  was  of  thefe  parts  of  Guinea,  that 
Monf.  Adanfon,  correfpondent  of  the  royal 
academy  of  fciences  at  Paris  from  1 749  ta 
1753,  g*ves  the  following  account,  both  as 
to  the  country  and  people.  "  Which  way 
foever  I  turned  my  eyes,  I  beheld  a  per- 
fect image  of  pure  nature  :  An  agreeable 
fdiitude,  bounded  on  every  fide  by  a 
charming  landfcape  y  the  rural  iituation 

of 


1^1 

of  cottages,  in  the  midft  of  trees ;  the  eafe 
anal  quietnefs  of  the  negroes,  reclined  un- 
der the  fhade  of  the  fpreading  foliage, 
with  the  limplicity  of  their  drefs  and  man- 
ners :  The  whole  revived  in  my  mind  the 
idea  of  our  firft  parents,  andlfeemed  to 
contemplate  the  world  in  its  primitive 
flate.  They  are  generally* fpeaking,  very 
good-natured,  fociable  and  obliging.  I 
was  not  a  little  pleafed  with  my  very  firft 
reception,  and  it  fully  convinced  me,  that 
there  ought  to  be  a  confiderable  abate- 
ment made,  in  the  accounts  we  have  of 
the  favage  character  of  the  Africans."  He 
adds,  "  It  is  amazing  that  an  illiterate 
people  mould  reafon  fb  pertinently  con- 
cerning the  heavenly  bodies.  There  is 
no  doubt,  but  that  with  proper  inftru- 
■mentSjthey  would  become  excellent  aftro- 
xiomers." 

9.  The  inhabitants  of  the  Grain  and 
'Ivory-Coafl  are  reprefented  by  thofe  that 
deal  with  them,  as  fenfible,  courteous, 
and  the  faireft  traders  on  the  coafts  of 
Guinea.  They  rarely  drink  to  excefs  :  If 
any  do,  they  are  feverely  punifhed  by  the 
-king's  order.  They  are  feldom  troubled 
with  war  :  If  a  difference  happen  between 
two  nations,  they  commony  end  the  dii- 
-pute  amicably. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  Gold  and  Slave- 
Coaft  likewife3  when  they  are  not  artfully 

in- 


[12  g 

incenfed  againft  eich  other,  live  in  great 
union  and  friend  (hip,  being  generally 
well-tempered,  civil,  tractable,  and  ready 
to* help  any  that  need  it.  In  particular, 
the  natives  of  the  kingdom  of  Whidah  are 
civil,  kind,  and  obliging  to  flrangers. — 
And  they  are  the  moil  gentleman-like  of 
all  the  negroes,  abounding  in  good  man- 
ners towards  each  other.  The  inferiors 
pay  great  refpecl  to  their  fuperiors : — • 
So  wives  to  their  hufbands,  children  to 
their  parents.  And  they  are  remarkably 
induftrious:  All  are  conftantly  employ'd; 
the  men  in  agriculture,  the  women  in 
fpinning  and  weaving  cotton. 

i  o.  The  Gold  and  -Slave  Coafls  are  divid- 
ed into  feveial  diftri&s,  fome  governed  by 
kings,  others  by  the  principal  men,  who 
take  care  each  of  their  own  town  or  vil- 
lage, and  prevent  or  appeafe  tumults.— 
They  punim  murder  and  adultery  fe- 
verely  ;  very  frequently  with  death. — 
Theft  and  robbery  are  puniihed  by  a  fine 
proportionable  to  the  goods  that  were 
taken.- — -All  the  natives  of  this  coaft, 
though  heathens,  believe  there  is  oneGorj, 
the  auchor  of  them  and  all  things.  They 
appear  likewife  to  have  a  confufed  appre- 
■  henfion  of  a  future  flate.  And  accord- 
ingly every  town  and  village  has  a  place 
of  public  worfhip.— =-It  is  remarkable  that 

they 


C  p  ] 

they  have  no  beggars  among  them  :  Such 
is  the  care  of  the  chie£  men,  in  every  city 
and. village,  to  provide  fome  eafy  labour, 
even  for  the  old  and  weak.  Some  are 
employ'd  in  blowing  the  fmiths  bellows; 
others  in  prefiing  palm-oil  ;  others  in 
grinding  of  colours.  If  they  are  too  weak 
even  for  this,  they  fell  provifions  in  the 
market. 

ii.  The  accounts  we  have  of  the  na- 
tives of  the  kingdom  of  Benin  is,  that  they 
are  a  reafonable  and  good-natured  people, 
fincere  and  inoffenfive,  and  do  no  injuftice 
either  to  one  another  or  to  Grangers. — 
They  are  civil  and  courteous:  If  you 
make  them  a  prefent,  they  endeavour  tc* 
repay  it  dou'ole.  And  if  they  are  truited, 
till   the  (hip  returns  next  year,  they  are 

fure  honefiiy  to  pay  the  whole  debt. 

Theft  is  puniihed  among  them,  altho* 
not  with  the  fame  feverity  as  murder.  If 
a  man  and  woman  of  any  quality,  are 
taken  in  adultery,  they  are  certain  to  be 
put  to  death,  and  their  bodies  thrown  on 
a  dunghill,  and  left  a  prey  to  wild  beads. 
They  are  punctually  juft  and  honeft  in 
their  dealings;  and  are  alfo  very  charitable: 
The  king  and  the  great  lords  taking  care 
to  employ  all  that  are  capable  of  any  work. 
And  thofe  that  are  utterly  helplefs  they 
keep  for  God's  fake ;  fo  that  here  alfo  are 
G  no 


1 14] 

iro  beggars.  The  inhabitants  of  Congo  and 
Angola  are  generally  a  quiet  people.  They 
diicover  a  good  understanding,  and  be- 
have in  a  friendly  manner  to  Grangers, 
being  of  a  mild  temper  and  an  affable  car- 
riage.— — Upon  the  whole  therefore  the 
negroes  who  inhabit  the  coaft  of  Africa, 
from  the  river  Senegal  to  the  fouthern 
bounds  of  Angola,  are  fo  far  from  being 
the  ftupid,  fenfelefs,  brutifh,  lazy  barba- 
rians, the  fierce,  cruel,  perfidious  ravages 
they  have  been  defcribed,  that  on  the 
contrary,  they  are  reprefented  by  them 
who  had  no  motive  to  flatter  them,  as  re- 
markably fenfible,  confidering  the  few 
advantages  they  have  for  improving  their 

underftanding : As  very  induftrious, 

perhaps   more  fo  than  any  other  natives 

of  fo  warm   a  climate. As  fair,  juft 

and  honeft  in  their  dealings,  unlefs 
where  whitemen  have  taught  them  to 
be  other  wife  : — And  as  far  more  mild, 
friendly  and  kind  to  flrangers,  than  any 
of  our  forefathers  were.  Our  forefathers! 
Where  mail  we  find  at  this  day,  among 
the  fair-faced  natives  of  Europe,  a  nation 
generally  pracliiing  the  juftice,  mercy, 
and  truth,  which  are  related  of  thefe 
poor  black  Africans?  Snppofe  the  preced- 
ing accounts  are  true,  (which  I  fee  no  rea- 
ihlx  or  pretence  to  doubt  of)  and  we  may 

leave 


[  15  3 

leave  England  and  France,  to  feek  genuine 
honefty  in  Benin,  Congo,  or  Angola. 

HI.  We  have  now  feen,  what  kind  of 
country  it  is,  from  which  the  negroes  are 
brought :  And  what  fort  of  men  (even 
whitemen  being  the  judges)  they  were  in 
their  own  country.  Enquire  we,  Thirdly  ,- 
In  what  manner  are  they  generally  pro- 
cured, carried  to,  and  treated  in  America. 

i.  Fir  ft.  In  what  manner  are  they  pro- 
cured ?  Part  of  them  by  fraud.  Captains 
of  (hips  from  time  to  time,  have  invited 
negroes  to  come  on  board,  and  then  car- 
ried them  away.  But  far  more  have  been 
procured  by  force..  The  ehriflians  land- 
ing upon  their  coafts,  feized  as  many  as 
they  found,  men,  women  and  children , 
and  tranfported  them  to  America:  It  was 
about  155 1,  that  the  Englifi  began  trading 
to  Guinea  :  At  fir  ft,  for  gold  and  elephants 
teeth,  butfoon  after,  for  men.  In  1566, 
Sir  John  Hawkins  failed  with  twofhips  to 
Cape  Verd,  where  he  feat  eighty  men  on 
fhore  to  catch  negroes.  But  the  natives 
flying,  they  fell  farther  down,  and  there 
let  the  men  on  fhore,  "  to  burn  their 
towns  and  take  the  inhabitants."  But 
they  met  with  fuch  refiftance,  that  they 
had  feven  men  killed,  and  took  but  ten 
negroes.  So  they  went  ftill  farther  down «, 
G   2:  till 


; 


C  i*3 

till  having  taken  enough,  they  proceeded3 
to  the  Weft-Indies  ^  and  ibid  them*. 

i.  It 


*■  Here  it  may  be  well  to  give  a  particular  ac- 
count of  that  tranfaclion  in  the  very  words  in  which 
it  is   transmitted  to  us  by  early  hiftorians,  as  it  is 
a  clear  proof,,  that    it    was  folely   from    a    defire 
of  gain   that  the  Engitfn  flrlt   undertook    to    fei/.e 
and  bring  the  unhappy  /Ifricans  from  their  native 
country  ;   and  is   a  clear  and  pofitive  refutation  of 
thofe    falfe  arguments  frequently  advanced  in  vin- 
dication of  the  jlave  trade,  viz.  That  the  fir  ft  pur- 
chafe  of  negro  flaves  by  the  EnglijJi,  was  from    mo- 
tives of  compadion,  with  views  of  faving  the  lives 
of  fome  of  thofe  blacks  who  being  taken  prifoners 
in  battle,  would,  if  not  thus  purcha&d,  have  been 
jfacrificed  to  the  revenge  of  their  conquerors:   but 
this  plea  is  manifeftly  falfe  ;    from  all  the  accounts 
we  have  of  the  difpofition  of  the  negroes  in  thofe 
early   times,  they  appear  to  have  been  an  innocent 
people,    gentle  and  eafy  in  their   nature  ;  rather 
averfe  to  war,   as  is  the  general  difpofition  of  the 
natives  of  thefe  warm  climates;  till  being  corrupt- 
ed by  an  intercourfe  with  the  Europeans,  and  ftimu- 
lated  by  the  excedive  ufe  of  fpirituous  liquors,  they 
were  induced  to  join  them  in  their  cruel  deprada- 
tions  againlt  their  unhappy  countrymen.    The  ac- 
count given    of  that  transaction  by  Tbowas  Lediard 
in  his  naval  hiftory,   at  page  141,  is  in  the  follow- 
ing words:   "  That  Sir  John  Hawkins  in  his  feveral 
"  voyages  to  theCanary  iflands,  understanding  that 
-"  negroes  were  a  very  good  commodity  in  Uijpani- 
,M  ola,  (then  fettling  by  the  Spaniards)  and  that  they 
■"-  were  eafy-,  to-be  had,  in,  great  numbers  on  the 


i  n  ] 

sr.  It  was  fome  time  before  the  Europeans 
found  a  more  compendious  way  or  pro- 
curing African  Haves,  by  prevailing  upon 
them  to  make  war  upon  each  other,  and 
to  fell  their  prifoners.- — —Till  then  they 
ieldom  had  any  wars:  But  were  in  ge- 
neral quiet  and  peaceable.  But  the  white 
men  firft  taught  them  drunkennefs  and 
avarice,  and  then  hired  them  to  fell  one 
another.  Nay,  by  this  means,  even  their 
kings  are  induced  to  fell  their  own  fub- 

jecrs. 


*«  coaft  of  Guinea.  Having  opened  his  mind  to 
**  his  friends,  he  foon  found  adventurers  for  his 
"  undertaking ;  amongft  whom  were  Sir  Lionel 
"  Docket, $\v  Thomas  Lodge,  and  others  :  and  having 
"  fitted  out  three  fmall  veffels,  manned  only  with. 
M  ioo  meni  he  departed  from  the  coaft  of  England 
"  in  Ocloberi  562,  and  failed  firft  toTeneriffe ,  where 
**  he  took  in  feveral  refreshments  ;  from  thence  to- 
*f  the  coaft  ©f  Guinea,  where  he  got  in  poffeffion,^ 
•*  partly  by  the  fv/ord,  and  by  other  means,  11  p- 
eS  wards  of  three  hundred  of  the  natives,  befides 
•?  feveral  commodities  which  thar  country  afford- 
«'  ed  :  with  this  booty  lie  fet  fail  for  the  ifland  of 
{t  Hifpaniola  in  the  Weft -In  dies,  where  he  difpofed 
«*  of  his  negroes*  Two  years  after,  he  went  another 
«'  voyage  on  the  coaft  of  Guinea ;  there  he  ftaid  fe- 
«*  veral  days  at  the  ifland  Sabula,  where  every  day 
*'  they  took  fome  of  the  inhabitants  ;  burning  and- 
'«  ravaging  their  towns:  wThen  having  compleated 
««  their  number  of  negroes,  they  fet  fail  for  the- 
£  Weft-lndies,"      ' 


jects.  So  Mr.  Moore  (facTor  of  the  African 
company  in  1730)  informs  us,  "  When 
the  king  of  ifor/W/i  wants  goods  or  brandy, 
he  fends  to  the  Englijb  governor  at  James' 

fort,  who  immediately  fends  a  floop. 

Againft  the  time  it  arrives,  he  plunders" 
fome  of  his  neighbours  towns,  felling  the 
people  for  the  goods  he  wants.  At  other 
times  he  falls  upon  one  of  his  own  towns, 
and  makes  bold  to  fell  his  own  fubjects." 
So  Monf.  Brue  fays,  "  I  wrote  to- the 
king,  (not  the  fame)  u  if  he  had  a  furli* 
cient  number  of  Haves  I  would  treat  with 
Bim.  He  feized  three  hundred  of  his 
own  people,  and  fent  word,  he  was  ready 
to  deliver  them  for  the  goods."  He  adds, 
"  Some  of  the  natives  are  always  ready" 
(when  well  paid)  "  to  furprize  and  carry 
off  their  own  countrymen.  They  come 
at  night  without  noife,  and  if  they  find 
any  lone  cottage,   furround  it  and  carry 

off"  all    the  people.' *- B arbct,, (another 

French  .factor)  fays,.  "  Many  of  the  ilaves 
fold  by  the  negroes  are  prifoners  of  war, 
or  taken  in  the  ineurfions  they  make  into 

their  enemy's  territories. Others  are 

ilolen.  Abundance  of  little. blacks  of  both 
fexes,are  ilolen  away  by  their  neighbours, 
when  found  abroad  on  the  road,  or  in  the 
woods,  or  elfe  in  the  corn-fields,  at  the 
time  of  year  when  their  parents   keep 

thenfe 


i  <9 1 

Chem  there  all  day  to  fcare  away  the  de- 
vouring birds."  That  their  own  parents 
fell 'them,  is  utterly  falfe: 

3.  To  fet  the  manner  wherein  Negroes 
are  procured  in  a  yet  ftronger  light,  it 
will  fuffice  to  give  an-  extract  of  two  voy- 
ages to  Guinea  on  this  account.  The 
firft  is  taken  verbatim  from  the  original 
manufcript  of  the  Surgeon's  Journal. 

"  Sestro,  Dec.  29,  1724.  No  trade 
to  day,  though  many  traders  came  on 
board.  They  informed  us,  that  the  pech- 
pie  are  gone  fo  war  within  land,  and  will 
bring  prifoners  enough  in  two  or  three 
days  ;  in  hopes  of  which  we  Hay. 

"  The  30th.  No  trade  yet:  but  our 
traders  came  on  board  to;  day,  and  inform- 
ed us  the  people  had  burnt  four  towns: 
So  that  to-morrow  we  expect' Haves  off. 

"  The  31ft.  Fair  weather:  but  no 
trading  yet.  We  fee  each  night  towns 
burning.  But  we  hear,  many  of  the 
Beftro  men  are  killed  by  the  inland  Ne- 
groes :  So  that  we  fear  this  war  will  be 
unfuccefsful. 

"  The  2d.  of  January.  Laft  night  we 
faw  a  prodigious  fire  break  out  about 
eleverr  o'clock,  and  this  morning  fee  the 
town  of  Seflro  burnt  down  to  the  ground/' 
(It  contained  fome  hundred  houfes.)  u  So 
that  we  find  their  enemies  are  too  hard 

fcsr 


C    2°    1 

for  them  at  prefent,  and  confequentTy- 
our  trade  ipoiied  here.  Therefore  about 
feven  o'clock  we  weighed  anchor,  to 
proceed  lower  down." 

4.  The  fecond  extract  taken  from  the 
journal  of  a  Surgeon,  who  went  from  New-y 
Tork  on  the  fame  trade,  is  as  follows. - 
"  The  Commander  of  the  veffel  fent  to- 
acquaint  the  king,  that  he  wanted  a  car- 
go of  flaves.  The  king,  promifed  to  fur- 
nifh  him,  and  in  order  to  it,  fet  out, 
defigning  to  furprize  fome  town,  and 
make  all  the  people  prifoners.  Some 
time  after,  the  king  fent  him  word,  he 
had  not  yet  met  with  the  deiired  fuccefs: 
Having  attempted  to  break  up  two  towns, 
but  having  been  twice  repulfed :  But 
that  he  ftill  hoped  to  procure  the  number 
of  Haves*  In  this  defign  he  periifted,  till 
he  met  his  enemies  in  the  field.  A  battle 
was  fought,  which  laded  three  days. 
And  the  engagement  was  fo  bloody,  that 
four  thoufand  five  hundred  men  were 
flain  upon  thefpot."  Such  is  the  man- 
ner wherein  the  Negroes  are  procured ! 
Thus  the  chriftians  preach  the  gofpel  to 
the  heathens  ! 

5.  Thus  they  are  procured.  But  in 
what  numbers  and  in  what  manner  are 
they  carried  to  America  ? Mr.  Jnder- 

fcnin  his  Hiftory  of  trade  and  commerce, 

obferves?; 


[    21  | 

©bferves,  "  England  fupplies  her  Ameri- 
can colonics  with  Negro-flaves,  amount- 
ing in  number  to  about  an  hundred  thou- 
land  every  year.'*  That  is,  fo  many  are 
taken  on  board  our  mips;  but  at  lead 
ten  thoufand  of  them  die  in  the  voyages 
About  a  fourth  part  more  die  at  the  dif- 
ferent Ifiands,  in  what  is  call  the  Seafon- 
ing.  So  that  at  an  average,  in  the  paf~ 
fage  andfeafoning  together,  thirty  thou- 
sand die  :  That  is,  properly  are  mur- 
dered. O  earth,  Q  Sea,  cover  not  thou 
their  blood  !. 

6.  When  they  are  brought  down  to 
the  more  in  order  to  be  fold,  our  furge- 
ons  thoroughly  examine  them,  and  that 
quite  naked,  women  and  men,  without 
any  difiinftion  :  Thofe  that  are  approved 
are  fet  on  one  fide..  In  the  mean  time  a 
burning  ironr  with  the  arms  or  name  of 
the  Company,  lies  in  the  fire,  with  which 
they  are  marked  on  the  breaft.  Before 
they  are  put  into  the  fhips,  their  mailers 
ftrip  them  of  all  they  have  on  their  backs: 
So  that  they  come  on  bord  flark  naked, 
women  as  well  as  men.  It  is  common 
for  feveral  hundreds  of  them  to  be  put 
on  board  one  veifel ;  where  they  are  flow- 
ed together  in  as  little  room,  as  it  is  pof- 
fible  for  them  to  be  crowded.  It  is  eafy 
to  fuppofe  what  a  condition  they  muft 

foonj 


t«  1 

foon  be  in,  between  heat,  third,  and 
flench  of  various  kinds.  So  that  it  is  no 
wonder,  fo  many  mould  die  in  the  paf- 
fage  j  but  rather,  that  any  furvive  it.  * 

7.  When 


*  Thomas  Philips  in  his  account  of  a  voyage  he- 
made  to  Guinea,  and  from  thence  to  Barbadoes% 
with  a  cargo  of  flaves  relates,  «•  That  they  took 
feven  hundred  flaves  on  board.  When  they  were 
brought  in  the  veflel,  the  men  were  all  put  in  irons, 
two  and  two  fhackled  together,  to  prevent  their 
mutinying  or  fwimming  afnore.  The  negroes,  he 
fays,  are  fo  loath  to  leave  their  own  country,  that 
they  have  often  leaped  out  of  the  canoe,  boat  and 
fhip,  into  the  feas,  and  kept  under  water  till  they 
were  drowned,  to  avoid  being  taken  up,  and  faved 

by  the  boats  which  purfue   them." ^ They 

had  about  twelve  negroes  who  willingly  drowned 
themfelves;  others  ftarved  themfelves  to  death — 
Philips  was  advifed  to  cut  off  the  legs  and  arms  of 
fome  to  terrify  the  reft;  (as  other  captains  had 
done)  but  this  he  refufed  to  do  :  From  the  tims 
of  his  taking  the  negroes  on  board,  to  his  arrival 
at  Baibadoes,  no  lefs  than  three  hundred  and  twenty 
died  of  various  difeafes  :  Which  the  author  fays, 
"  was  to  their  great  regret,  after  enduring  much 
mifery  and  ftench,  fo  long,  among  a  parcel  of 
creatures  nattier  than  fwine  :  No  gold-finder,  fays 
Philips,  can  fuffer  fuch  noifome  drudgery  as  they 
do  who  carry  negroes,  having  no  refpite  from 
their  afftidHons  fo  long  as  any  of  their  flaves  are 
alive.  "  How  unreafonable  was  it  in  Philips  thus 
to  reflect  on  negroes ;  could   fuch   a   number  be 

crowed. 


[    23    1 

7.  When  the  veffels  arrive  at  their 
deftined  port,  the  Negroes  are  again 
expafed  naked,  to  the  eyes  of  all  that 
flock  together,  and  the  examination  of 
their  purehafers :  Then  they  are  fepa- 
rated  to  the  plantations  of  their  feveral 
matters,  to  fee  each  other  no  more.  Here 
you  may  fee  mothers  hanging  over  their 
daughters,  bedewing  their  naked  breafts 
with  tears,  and  daughters  clinging  to 
their  parents,  till  the  whipper  foon  oblig- 
es them  to  part.  And  what  can  be  more 
wretched  than  the  condition  they  then 
enter  upon  ?  Banifhed  from  their  coun- 
try, from  their  rriends  and  relations  for 
ever,  from  every  comfort  of  life,  they 
are  reduced  to  a  Hate  icarce  any  way 
preferable  to  that  of  beafts  of  burthen. 
In  general  a  few  roots,  not  of  the  niceft 
kind,  ufually  yams  or  potatoes,  are  their 

food 


crowded  together  in  fo  warm  a  climate,  even  if 
they  had  all  been  healthy,  without  being  extremely 
offenfive :  How  much  more  when  fo  many  lay 
fick,  dead  and  dying.  He  ipeaks  of  the  Engrijh 
people's  great  fufferings  by  naftinefs,  (tench,  &c. 
but  he  forgets  the  fufferings  of  the  poor  bla  cks, 
which  muft  have  been  incomparably  greater  than 
their's  ;  not  to  mention  the  painful  forrow,  and 
anxiety  of  mind  thefe  diftreffed  creatures  muft  have 
laboured  under. 


food,  and  two  rags,  that  neither  fcrcen 
them  from  the  heat   of  the  day,  nor  the 
cold  of  the  night  their  covering.     Their 
fleep  is  verf  fliort,  their  labour  continu- 
al, and  frequently  above  their  ftrength; 
fo  that  death  fets  many  of  them  at  liberty, 
before  they  have  lived  out  half  their  days. 
The  time   they  work  in   the  Weft   Indies., 
is  from   day   break   to   noon,  and  from 
two    o'clock  till    dark :     During  which 
time    they    are  attended    by    overfeers, 
who,    if  they   think   them    dilatory,     or 
think  any  thing   not  fo   well  done  as  it 
mould  be,  vihip  them  moft  unmercifully, 
fo  that  you  may   fee  their  bodies  long 
after  whealed  and  fcarred  ufually  from 
the  moulders  to   the  waift.     And  before 
they  are  fullered  to  go  to  their  quarters, 
they  have   commonly  fomething  to  do, 
as   collecting  herbage  for  the  horfes,  or 
gathering  fewel  for  the  boilers.     So  that 
it  is  often  pall  twelve,    before   they   can 
get  home.     Hence  if  their  food  was  not 
prepared,    they   are  fometimes  called  to 
labour  again,  before  they  can  fatisfy  their 
hunger.     And  no   excufe  wrill  avail.     If 
they  are  not  in  the  Held  immediately,  they 
■mud:  expecl   to   feel  the  lafh.     Did  the 
Creator  intend,  that  the  noblefl  creatures 
in  the  vifible  world,  fhould  live   fuch  a 
•life  as  this! 

"Are 


1  25  I 

"  Are  thefe  thy  glorious  works,  ^Pa- 
rent Gf4£f*&&?^ 

8*.  As  to  the  punimments  infli&ed  on 
them,  fays  Sir  Hans  Shan,  **  they  fre* 
quently  geld  them,  or  chop  off  half  a 
foot:  After  they  are  whipped  till  they 
are  raw  all  over,  fome  put  pepper  and 
fait  upon  them  :  Some  drop  melted  wax 
upon  their  fkin.  -Others  cut  off  their 
ears,  and  conftxain  them  to  broil  and  eat 
them.  "  For  Rebellion,"  (that  is,  affert- 
ing  their  native  Liberty,  which  they 
have  as  much  right  to  as  to  the  air  they 
breathe)  "  they  fallen  them  down  to  the 
ground  with  crooked  flicks  on  every 
limb,  and  then  applying  dre  by  degrees, 
to  the  feet  and  hands,  they  burn  them 
gradually  upward  to  the  head."  * 

9  But 

*  Sir  Hant  Sloan  after  defer  Lb  in  g  thefevere  tor- 
tures pracrifed  on  the  negroes,  funis  up  the  pains 
they  are  made  to  fulfer  under  the  terms  of  exqid- 
Jite  and  extravagant- 

Now  muft  not  thereafonable  and  humane  nature 
of  thofe  who  order  thefe  dreadful  tortures,  as  well 
.as  thofe  who  execute  thorn,  be  changed  into  ue- 
velifh,  who  can  thus  put  their  fellow  creatures 
to  fuch  extravagant,  fucli  exqmfls  tonnent?  And 
for  what  ?  Often,  even  for  that;  which  their  tor- 
mentors themfelves  would  have  done  if  in  their 
jfituation.  If  thro'  the  exertion  of  barbarous  and 
unjiut  laws,  the  natural  attendant  on  il.r>/er.r, 
D  thefe 


f  pfi  1 

-9  But  will  not  the  laws  made  in  <he 
Plantations,  prevent  or  redrefs  all  cruelty 
and   Oppreffion  ?     We   will  take    but   a 

few 

•i-hek  our  haplefs  felJow  men  are  doomed  to  die, 
ret  in  their  deaths,  let  it  at  leaft  be  remembered 
.that  they  are  men.  We  hear  with  horror  and  de- 
testation of  fome  fuch  execution  in  the  inquifitions 
and  under  fome  tyrannic  governments  ;  but  thefe 
inhumanities  are  certainly  contrary  to  the  genius 
and  difpofition  of  the  Britijh  nation,  and  quite 
abhorent  of  its  laws,  which  do  not  allow  of  tor- 
tures either  in  punifhment,  or  to  extort  confef- 
iions.  Sir  /  Dalrymple  in  his  memoirs  fays  that  the 
parliament  in  the  declaration  of  right  afferted,  that 
p  tying  and  ref petting  humane  nature  t  no  cruel  and  un- 
ufual  pun'JJment  Jhould  be  inficled. 

How  Britons  can  fo  readily  admit  of  a  change 
in  their  difpofition  and  fentiments,  as  to  practice 
in  America  what  they  abhor  and  detefted  in  Britain^ 
can  be  accounted  for  on  no  other  principle,  but 
as  being  the  natural  effect  of  Have-keeping,  which 
as  the  celebrated  Montefquieu  obferves,  "  infenfibl.y 
accuftoms  thofe  who  are  in  the  practice  of  it,  to 
want  all  moral  virtues,  to  become  haughty,  hafty 
hard  hearted,  paffionate,  voluptuous  and  cruel. 
The  evil  attendant  on  the  condition  of  the  poor 
{laves  will  end  with  their  lives,  and  the  merciful  fa- 
ther of  the  family  of  mankind  will  doubtlefs  look  on 
iheir  deep  afliicTion,  and  where  their  hearts  are 
thereby  humbled,  requite  them  good  in  ano- 
ther ilate  of  exigence  for  their  fufFerings  in  this  : 
but  with  refpeel  to  their  lordly  opp-effbrs,  this 
horrible  abufe  of  their  fellow  men,  will  doubtie's 
extend  its  baneful  influence  even  into  the  regions 
.of  eternity.  It  is  furprifmg  that  the  thoughtful 
people,  where  flavery  prevails  fliould  fo  little  ad- 
vert 


[  n  T 

few  of  t'hofe  Laws  for  a  fpecimeir,    and 
then  let  any  man  judge. 

In  order  to   rivet  the  chain  of  flavery, 
the  law  of  Virginia  ordains,  "  That  no 

Have 


vert  to  its  dreadful  confequent  effects  to  themfelves- 

:md  families,  particularly  on  the  neeeility  they  are 

in    of   fendincj.  away   their    offspring   from    under 

p  ..  J        ° 

their  own  patern?;l  care,  in  very- early  lire,  left  their 

tender  minds  mould  be  corrupted,  and  every  noble 
aud  generous  fentiments  eradicated  by  the  op- 
predion  and  cruelty  they  are  daily  witnsiTes  of.— • 
That  parents  fhould  i  e  thus  incapacitated  and  de- 
prived of  the  opportunity  and  fatisfaction  of  form- 
ing the  minds  of  their  offspring  to  virtue  and  hap- 
pinefs,  but  that  this  mod'  iacred  and  delightful  irint' 
muff  be  left  to  the  care  of  the  hireling  and  the 
ftranger,  muft  to  every  tender  thinking  parent, 
appear  an  evil  of  fo  ahlictive  a  natuie,  and  fo  con- 
trary to  the  divine  order,  that  no  human  advantage 
can  compensate  for. 

The  author  of  the  hi  (lory  of  Jamaica,  wrote  a- 
feout  the  year  1740,  in  his  account  of  the  Sufferings 
of  the  negroes,  fays,  The  people  of  that  ifland  have 
indeed  the  fevered  ways  of  punithing  ;  no  country 
exceeds  them  in  a  barbarous  treatment  of  theisj 
fiaves,  or  in  the  cruel  methods  by  which  they  are 
put  to  death.  After  confirming  what  is  before 
laid  he  adds,  "  They  ftarve  them  to  death,  with 
a  loaf  hanging  over  their-  mouths.  I  have  feeiii 
thefe  unfortunate  wretches  gnaw  the  flefii  off  their 
fhoulders,  and  expire  in  all  the  frightful  agonies  of 
©ne  under  the  moft  horrible  tortures.  He  add^ 
I  incline,  to  toucii-  the.  haidfhip  which  thefe  poor 
EX  X  creatures 


r  ^  1 

Have  diall  befet  free,  upon  any  pretence 
whatever,  except  for  fome  meiitorious 
krvices,  to  be  adjudged  and  allowed  by; 

the  governor  and  council :  And  that  where 

any 


creatures  fufFer  in  the  tendered  manner,  from  a  par- 
ticular regard  which  I  have  to  many  of  their' 
leaders  ;  but  I  eanuot  conceal  their  fad  circurn- 
iiances  entirely  :  the  moil  trivial  error  is  puniihed 
-with  terrible  whipping.  I  have  Teen  fome  of  them 
treated  in  that  ersel  manner,  for  no  other  reafoa 
Irat  to  faifaffy  the  brntifii  pieafure of  an  ovcriecr, 
who  has  their  puuimment  mouly  at  his  difcrction. 
I  Have  iecn  their  bodies  all  in  a  gore  of  blood,  thc 
iiiin  torn  off then*  backs  with  the  cruel  whip,  beaten 
p?pper  and  fait  rubbed  in  the  wounds,  and  a  large 
fiick  of  fealing-wax  dropped  leifurely  upon  there. 
It  is  no  wonder,  (adds  this  author)  if  the  horrid 
pain  of  fbch  inhuman  tortures  incline  them  to  rebel." 
The  fame  author  gives  us  extracts  of  fome  of  the 
Jaws  of  Jamaica  relating  to  thepunifliment  of  Haves, 
fa&en  as  jbe  fays,  from  a  general  collection  of  the 
plantation  laws,  the  printed  flatutes,  or  the  fecre- 
tary's  -cf&ce,  viz. 

**  If  any  Have  by  punifhment  from  his  owner  for 
rnmim^  away,  or  other  offence,  fufFer  in  life  or  limb, 
fiofie  iball  be  liable  to  the  law  for  the  fame ;  but 
whomever  (halt  kill  a  Have  out  of  wilfulnefs,  wan- 
tonnefsi  or  bloody  r-nindednefs,  fhall  fufFer  three 
months  imprifonment,  and  pay  fifty  pounds  to  the 
owner  of  the  Save,  If  the  party  fo  offending  be  a 
fervant,  he  cr  fhe  (hall  have  on  the  bare  back  thirty* 
irir.e  lames,  and  alfo  (after  the  expiration  of  the 
term  with  his  cr.lier  mailer  or.  miftrefs)  fhall  ferve- 

the. 


any  flave  fhall  be  fet  free  by  his  owner, 
otherwife  than  is  herein  directed,  the 
church-wardens  of  the  parifh  wherein 
fuch  negro  {hall  refide  for  the  fpace  or 

one 


the  owner  of  the  deceafed  flave  the  full  term  of 
four  years.  If  any  perfon  kill  a  flave  dealing  or 
running  away,  or  found  by  night  out  of  his  owner's 
ground,  road,  or  common  p^th-,  fuch  perfon  fhall 
not  be  fubjecl:  to  any  damage  or  action  for  the  fame. 

*'  Thofe  that  go  out  in  parties  to  reduce  the 
negroes,  fhall  receive  from  the  treafurer  for  every 
rebellious  negro  that  fhall  be  killed,  bringing  in  his 
head  to  any  juftice,  forty  pounds;  for  every  negro 
taken  and  brought  in  alive,  and  not  maimed,  ten 
pounds,  to  be  paid  by  the  owner,  who  is  hereby- 
obliged  under  the  penalty  of  fifty  pounds,  to  tranf- 
port  fuch  flave  fo  taken  ;  and  in  cafe  the  owner 
cannot  be  found,  then  the  treafurer  fhall  pay  the  ten 
pounds,  receive  the  flave,  fell  and  tranfport  him, 
and  retain  the  produce  to  be  employed  in  the  -fait! 
fervice. " 

The  following  advertisement  was  taken  from  one 
of  the  Nortb-Carolbiawzvjs,  papers.  "  Rtia-away  la-ft. 
November,  from  the  fubfcriber,  a  negro  fellow  named 
Ztb,  about  36  years  of  age,  about  5  feet  §  inches 
high,  a  very  good  cooper  by  trade  &c. — As  he  is 
outlawed,  1  will  pay  twenty  pounds  proclamation 
money  out  of  what  the  act  of  a/Tembly  allows  in 
fuch  cafes,  to  any  perfon  who  ihall  produce  his- 
head  fevered  from  his  body,  and  five  pounds  pro- 
clamation money  if  brought  home  alive." 

JOHN    M  OS  IE  r. 

D   3  An* 


i  &  1 

©He  month  are  hereby  authorized  and' 
required,  to  take  up  and  fell  the  faid  negro, 
by  public  outcry." 

Will,  not  thefe  Law-givers  take  effec- 
tual care,  to  prevent  cruelty  and  opprei- 
lion  I 

The 


An  advertif«ment  of  the  fame  kind  was  printed 
SxiLondon,  in  the  general  evening-poft,  Jan  i,  1774, 
laid  to  he  taken  from  the  Williamjburgh  gazette, 
where  after  defcribing  the  negro,  the  matter  adds, 
f\  The  faid  fellow  is  outlawed,  and  I  will  give  ten 
pounds  reward  for  his  head  fevered  from  his  body, 
or  forty,  millings  if  brought  alive."  As  ftrange  as 
i'tich  publications  may  appear  to  fuch  whofe  hearts 
as  are  not  hardned  by  the  practice  of  flavery,  yet  I 
am  informed  advertifements.  of  this  kind  are  fre- 
quent in  the  fouthern  colonies. 

It  is  alledged  by  the  planters  in  excufe  for  thefe 
unnatural,  thefe  monitrous  cruelties,  that  the 
greate'f.  feverity,  the  mod  cruel  punifhments,  are 
abiblutely.  neceifary  for  the  management  of  flaves, . 
on  account  of  t hole  train  of  vices  which  flavery 
necellarily  introduces.  A  late  author  remarks  how 
ihocking  it  is  to  think  that  thofe  unhappy  victims 
muii  from  the  nature  of  the  thing  become  danger- 
ous andrefaclory,  in  proportion  to  the  greatnefsand 
generofity  of  their'  minds. 

Can  there  be  a  more  dangerous  maxim,  than 
that  neceulty  is  a  plea  for  injuitice  ?  For  who  (Hall 
fix  the  degree  of  this  neceffity  ?  What  villain  fo 
atrocious  who  may  not  urge  this  excufe  ?  or  is  Milton 
exTneiTcs  it — 

And, 


r  p  ] 

The  law  of  Jamaica  ordains,  "Every 
Have  that  fhali  run  away,  and  continue 
abfent  from   his  mailer  twelve  months, 
ihail  be  deemed  rebellious :"  And  by  ano- 
ther 


And  'with  neceffity- 

The  tyrants  plea,  exctife  his  derfjijh  deed. 

Kow  many  thoufands  and  tens  of  thoufands  has 
this  dev'lifhplea  of  neceffity  brought  to  a  cruel  and 
untimely  end  ?  What  account  will  in  future  ftates 
of  exiftence,  be  given  to  the  father  of  the  family  of 
mankind,  for  the  lives  of  fo  many  of  our  fellow  men 
fo  inhumanly  murdered.  A  particular  inftance  of 
the  deftruclion  of  human  beings,  under  the  pre- 
tence of  neceflity,  is  related  by  captain  Cook,  in 
his  voyage  round  the  world,  in  company  with 
meffieurs  Banks  and  Solander,  in  the  year  1768, 
being  at  Rio.Janiero,  one,  if  not  the  principal  town 
of  Brazil;  he  relates,  page  29,  "  That  the  inha- 
bitants? who  are  very  numerousj  confifts  of  Portu- 
guefe,  Negroes  and  InrUans.  The  townfhip  of  Rio 
Janiero,  which  he  was  told  was  but  a  imall  part 
of  the  province,  is  faid  to  contain  thirty- feven 
thoufand  white  people,  and  fix  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-nine thoufand  b tacks,  many  of  whom  are  free, 
in  the  proportion  of  feventeen  to  one." 

Page  34.  (he  tellsus  "  The  riches  of  the  place 
confifts  chiefly  in  the  mines ;  that  much  gold 
is  brought  from  thefe  mines,  but  at  an  expence  of 
life  that  muft  urike  every  man3  to  whom  cuftom 
has  not  made  it  familiar,  with  horror.  No  left 
than  forty  thoufand  Negroes  are  annually  imported 
©n  ths  king's  account  to  dig  in  the  mines;  and  (he 

add*) 


ther  law,  fifty  pounds  are  allowed,  to 
thofe  who  kill  or  bring  in  alive  a  rebelli- 
ous Have."  So  their  law  treats  thefe  poor 
men  with  as  little  ceremony  and  confi- 
deration,  as  if  they  were  merely  brute 
beads !  But  the  innocent  blood  which 
is  fhed  in  confequence  of  fuch  a  deteftable 
law,  muft  call  for  vengeance  on  the  mur- 
derous abettors  and  actors  of  fuch  delibe- 
rate wickednefs. 

ii.  But  the  law  of  Barb 'a does  exceeds 
even  this.  "  If  any  negro  under  puniuV 
ment,  by  his  mailer,  or  his  order,  for 
running  away,  or  any  other  crime  or 
mifdemeanor,  mall  fufFer  in  life  or  mem- 
ber■,  noperfon  whatever  Jb all  be  liable  to  any 
fine  therefore.  But  if  any  man  oi  wan- 
tonness, or  only  of  bloody-minded- 

NESS   Or  CRUEL    INTENTION,    Wilfully    kill 

a  negro  of  his  own"  (Nov/  obferve  the 
fevere  puniihment!)  "  He  mall  pay  into 
the  public  treafury  fifteen  pounds  fler- 
ling!  And  not  be  liable  to  any  other 
puniihment  or  forfeiture  for  the  fame !" 

Nearly 


adds)  we  are  credibly  informed,  that  the  laft  year 
but  one  before  we  arrived  here,  this  number  fell  fo 
fhort,  probably  from  fome  epidemic  difeafe,  that 
twenty  thouiand  more  were  draughted  from  the: 
town,  of  Rio  Jamero" 


C  33  1 

Nearly  allied  to  this  is  that  law  of  Vir- 
ginia: "  After  proclamation  is  iffued  a~ 
gairtft  flaves  that  run  away,  it  is  lawful 
for  any  perfon  whatfoever  to  kill  and 
destroy   fuch    flaves,    by    such    ways 

AND    MEANS-- AS    HE  SHALL   THINK   FIT. 

We  have  fees  already  fome  of  the  ways 
and  means  which  have  been  thought  ft  on 
fuch  occaflons.  And  many  more  might 
be  mentioned.  One  gentleman,  when  I 
was  abroad  thought  ft  to  roaft  his  (lave 
alive!  But  if  the  moil  natural  act  of 
fc4  running  away"  from  intolerable  ty- 
ranny, deferves  fuch  relent  nefs  feverity, 
what  punifhment  have  thefe  law-makers 
to  expect  hereafter,  on  account  of  their 
own  enormous  offences  ? 

IV.  i.  This  is  the  plain,  un-aggravat- 
ed  matter  of  fact.  Such  is  the  manner 
wherein  our  African  flaves  are  procured: 
Such  the  manner  wherein  they  are  remov- 
ed from  their  native  land,  and  wherein 
they  are  treaed  in  our  Plantations.  I  would 
now  enquire,  whether  thefe  things  can 
be  defended,  on  the  principles  of  even  hea- 
then honefty?  Whether  they  can  be  recon- 
ciled (letting  the  Bible  out  of  the  queftion) 
with  any  degree  of  either  juftice  or  mercy. 

2.  The  grand  plea  is,  "  They  are  au- 
thorized by  law."  But  can  law,  human 
law.,  change  the  nature  of  things  ?    Can 

it 


[  34  J 

it  turn  darknefs  into  IrgJit,  or  evil  Li  to' 
good?  By  no- means.  Notwithstanding 
ten  thonfand  laws,  riocht  is  right,  and 
wrong  is  wrong  {HI!.  There  mull  {till' 
remain  an  eflential  difference  between 
juilice  and  injuftice,  cruelty  and  mercy. 
So  that  ftill  I  afk,  Who  can  reconcile 
this  treatment  of  the  negroes,  firft  and' 
lalt,  with  either  mercy  or  jaiftice. 

Where  is  the  juftice  of  inflicting^  the 
levereit  evils,  on  thofe  that  have  done  us' 
no  wrong?  Of  depriving  thofe  that  ne-- 
ver  injured  us  in  word  or  deed,  of  every 
comfort  of  life?  Of  tearing  them  from, 
their  native  country,  and  depriving  them 
of  liberty  itfelf  ?  To  which  an  Angola  ny 
has  the  fame  natural  right  as  an  Englifb- 
man,  and  on  which  he  fets  as  high  a 
value?  Yea  where  is  thejuftice  of  taking 
away  the  lives  of  innocent,  inoflenfive 
men  ?  Murdering  thoufands  of  them  in 
their  own  land,  by  the  hands  of  their 
own  countrymen  :  Many  thoufands,  year 
after  year,  on  fhipboard,  and  then  call- 
ing them  like  dung  into  the  fea !  And 
tens  of  thoufands  in  that  cruel  flavery,  to 
which  they  are  fo  unjuftly  reduced  ? 

3.  But  waving,  for  the  prefent,  all 
other  coniiderations,  I  ftrike  at  the  root 
of  this  complicated  villainy.  I  abfolute^- 
\  deny  all  Have- holding  to  be  confident 

with, 


I  35  1 

*with  any  degreee  of  even  natural  jufFrce. 

I  cannot  place  this  in  a  clearer  light, 
than  that  great  ornament  of  his  profef- 
fion,  judge  Blackflone  has  already  done. 
Part  of  his  words  areas  follows: 

"  The  three  origins  of  the  right  of 
ilavery  alBgned  by  Jufilm 'an,  are  all  built 
upon  falfe  foundations,  i.  Slavery  is 
faid  to  arife  from  captivity  in  war.  Tire 
conqueror  having  a  right  to  the  life  of 
his  captive,  if  he  fpares  that,  has  then 
a  right  to  deal  with  him  as  he  pleafes- 
JBut  this  is  untrue,  if  taken  generally, 
That  by  the  law  of  nations,  a  man  has  a 
right  to  kill  his  enemy.  He  has  only  a 
right  to  kill  him  in  particular  cafes  in  cafes 
of  abfolute  necellity  for  felf-defence.  And 
it  is  plain,  this  abfolute  necellity  did  not 
fubfift,  fince  he  did  not  kill  him,  but 
made  him  prifoner.  War  itfelf  is  jufti- 
iiable  only  on  principles  of  felf-prelerva- 
tion.  Therefore  it  gives  us  no  right  o- 
ver  prifoners,  but  to  hinder  their  hurt- 
ing us  by  confining  them.  Much  lefs 
can  it  give  a  right  to  torture,  or  kill,  or 
even  to  enilave  an  enemy  when  the  war 
is  over.  Since  therefore  the  right  of  mak- 
ing our  prifoners  flaves,  depends  on  a 
fuppofed  right  of  flaughter,  that  found- 
dation  failing,  the  confequence  which 
•fe  drawn  from  it  muft  fail  iikewife,? 

■  « it 


I  0  1 

€C  It  is  faid,  Secondly,  flavery  may  be- 
gin, by  one  man's  felling  himfelf  to  ano- 
ther. And  it  is  true,  a  man  may  fell  him- 
felf to  work  for  another  :  But  he  cannot 
fell  himfelf  to  be  a  Have,  as  above  defined. 
Every  fale  implies  an  equivalent  given  to 
the  feller,  in  lieu  of  what  he  transfers  to 
the  buyer.  But  what  equivalent  can  be 
given  for  life  or  liberty  ?  His  property 
likewife,  with  the  very  price  which  he 
feems  to  receive,  devolves  ipfo  fado  to  his 
matter,  the  inftant  he  becomes  his  Have  : 
In  this  cafe  therefore  the  buyer  gives 
nothing,  and  the  feller  receives  nothing. 
Of  what  validity  then  can  a  fale  be,  which 
deftroys  the  very  principles  upon  which 
all  fales  are  founded  ?" 

"  We  are  told,  Thirdly,  that  men  may 
be  born  /laves,  by  being  the  children  of 
Haves.  But  this  being  built  on  the  two 
former  rights,  muft  fall  together  vvith 
them.  If  neither  captivity,  nor  contract 
can  by  the  plain  law  of  nature  and  reafon, 
reduce  the  parent  to  a  (late  of  flavery, 
much  lefs  can  they  reduce  the  offspring." 
It  clearly  follows,  that  all  flavery  is  as  ir- 
reconcilable tojuftice  as  to  mercy. 

4.  That  Have-holding  is  utterly  incon- 
fiftent  with  mercy,  is  almoit  too  plain  to 
iiieed  a  proof.  Indeed  it  is  faid,  ct  That 
thele  negroes  being  priioners  of  war,  our 

captains 


[37] 

captains  and  factors  buy  them  merely  t© 
fava  them  from  being  put  to  deach.  And 
is  not  this  mercy  I"  I  anfvver,  r.  Did  Sir 
John  Hawkins ',  and  many  others,  feize 
upon  men,  women  and  children,  who 
were  at  peace  in  their  own  fields  or  houfes, 
merely  to  fave  them  from  death  ?  2.  Was 
it  to  fave  them  from  death,  that  they 
knocked  out  the  brains  of  thofe  they  could 
not  bring  away  ?  3.  Who  occasioned  and 
fomented  thofe  wars,  wherein  thefe  poor 
creatures  were  taken  priioners  ?  Who 
excited  them  by  money?  by  drink,  by 
every  poflible  means,  to  fall  upon  one 
another?  Was  it  not  themfelves  ?  They 
know  in  their  own  confcience  it  was,  if 
they  have  any  confcience  left.  But  4. 
To  bring  the  matter  to  a  fhort  nTue.  Can 
they  fay  before  God,  That  they  ever  took 
a  Angle  voyage,  or  bought  a  Single  negro 
from  this  motive  ?  They  cannot.  They 
well  know,  to  get  money,  not  to  fave  lives, 
was  the  whole  and  fole  fpring  of  their 
motions. 

5.  But  if  this  manner  of  procuring  and 
treating  negroes  is  not  confident  either 
with  mercy  or  juitice,  yet  there  is  a  plea 
for  it  which  every  man  of  bufmefs  will 
acknowledge  to  be  quite  fuificient.  Fifty 
years  ago,  one  meeting  an  eminent  ftatef- 
man  in  the  lobby  of  the  houfe  of  com- 
E  mon?? 


c  mt 

mons,  faid,  "  You  have  been  long  talking 
about  juil  ice  and  equity.  Pray  which  is 
this  bill  ?  Equity  or  jultice  ?"  Hl*  anfvver- 
ed,  very  fhort,and  plain,  "  D — n  jultice: 
It  is  neceflity."  Here  alfo  the  flave-holder 
iixes  his  foot:  Here  he  reils  the  flrength 
of  his  caufe.  "  It  it  is  not  quite  right,  yet 
It  muft  be  fo  :  There  is  an  abfolute  necejfity 
for  it.  It  is  neceffary  we  fhould  procure 
Haves  :  And  when  we  have  procured 
them,  it  is  neceffary  to  ufe  them  with  fe- 
verity,  confidering  their  ftupidity,  flub- 
bornnefs  and  wicked  n  efs." 

I  anfwer,  You  Humble  at  the  threfhold  : 
I  deny  that  viliany  is  ever  neceffary.  It 
is  impoilible  that  it  fhouid  ever  be  necef- 
fary, for  any  reafonable  creature  to  violate 
all  the  laws  of  juftice,  mercy,  and  truth. 
No  circumflances  can  make  it  neceffary 
for  a  man  to  burfc  in  funder  all  the  ties  of 
humanity.  It  can  never  be  neceffary  for 
a  rational  being  to  fink  himfelf  below  a 
brute.  A  man  can  be  under  no  neceflity, 
of  degrading  himfelf  into  a  wolf.  The 
abfurdity  of  the  fuppoiition  is  fo  glaring, 
that  one  would  wonder  any  one  can  help 
feeing  it. 

6.  This  in  general.  But  to  be  more 
particular,  I  afk,  i.  What  is  neceffary? 
And,  fecondly,  To  what  end?  It  may  be 
be  angered,  "  The  whole  method  »aw 

uled? 


L  39  ] 

nfed  by  the  original  purchafers  of  negroes, 
is  neceflary  to  the  furnifhing  our  colonies 
yearly  with  an  hundred  thoufand  Haves.5' 
I  grant,  this  is  neceflary  to  that  end.  But: 
how  is  that  end  neceflary  .p  How  will  you 
prove  it  neceflary,  that  one  hundred,  that 
one  of  thofe  ilaves  fliould  be  procured  ? 
«  Why,  it  is  neceflary  to  my  gaining  an 
hundred  thoufand  pounds."  Perhaps  fo: 
But  ho  v  is  this  neceflary  I  It  is  very  pof- 
■fibie  you  mii>ht  be  both  a  better  and  an 
happier  man,  if  you  had  not  a  quarter  of 
it.  I  deny  that  your  gaining  one  thoufand 
is  neceflary,  either  to  your  prefent  or 
eternal  happinefs.  "  But  however  yon 
mud  allow,  thefe  ilaves  are  neceflary  for 
the  cultivation  of  our  iflands  ;  inafrnuch, 
as  white  men  are  not  able  to  labour  in 
hot  climates  j."  I  anfwer,  i.  It  were  bet- 
ter 


f  It  is  not  prcpofed  to  remove  the  negroes  frora- 
labouringin  the  feveral  provinces  and  iflands  whsre 
they  are  now  employed  ;  in  order  to -employ  white 
men  in  their  dead,  what  is  propofed,  is  only  to  pre- 
vent any  farther  import  or  negroes,  except  thofe 
who  may  come  voluntarily  and  in  a  free  condition; 
and  to  fall  upon  fuch  juft  regulations  and  proper 
encouragement  with  refpeft  to  thofe  already  a- 
mongft  us,  that  frnm  dangerous  grudging  ilaves, 
they  may  become  willing  hearted  labourers,  who 
having  an  interefl  in  the  peace  and.  welfare  of  the 
E  2  «  country, 


T4o1 

ter  that  all  thofe  iflands  mould  remain 
uncultivated  for  ever,  yea,  it  were  more 
deiirable  that  they  were  all  together  funk 
in  the  depth  of  the  fea,  than  that  they 
ihould  be  cultivated  at  fo  high  a  price,  as 
the  violation  of  juilice,  mercy,  and  truth. 
But,  Secondly,  the  fuppofition  on  which 

you 


country,  will  be  parties  in  its  ftrength  and  fupport. 
But  whil ft  deficiencies  by  the  death  of  the  labouring 
ilaves  can  be  fo  eafily  made  up  by  the  "continual 
frefh  imports  from  Guinea,  and  the  planters  find  ft 
cheaper  to  make  new  purchafes  than  to  raife  the 
children,  or  fpare  and  cherifh  the  parents  of  thofe 
already  in  their  fervice,  little  amendment  can  be 
expected  in  the  hardship  rhey  are  put  to,  and  the 
cruelties  exercifed  upon  them.  Surely  the  number 
already  rn  our  colonies  and  iflands,  which  on  a 
calculation  made  four  or  five  years  paft,  was  be- 
tween eight  and  nine  hundred  thoufaud,  befides 
that  there  has'  been  a  vaft  number,  faid  to  be 
about  an  hundred  thoufand  fince  yearly  imported: 
all  thefe,  with  their  increafe,  if  well  ufed,  would 
certainly  be  fuificient  to  perform  all  necefTary  la- 
bour. 

If  an  end  was  put  to  the  import  of  negroes,  and 
the  odious  and  cruel  distinction  ofmafter  and  Haves, 
with  all  its  attendant  horrors  fhould  ceafe,  many 
labouring  people  from  Europe,  who  are  now  dif- 
coiiraged  irom  an  apprenfion  of  being  put  on  a 
level  with  ilaves,  would  probably  be  willing  to 
come  over  and  engage  in  the  fervice. 

John  Miller,  profeffor  of-  law  at  G/aJgoWi  in  his 
Jate  obfervatiom  concerning  dtpinclion  ofranksinfociety, 

obfervesj 


C  41  ] 

vou  ground  your  argument  is  falle.  For 
white  men,  even  Englifimen^  are  well  able 
to  labour  in  hot  climates  :  provided  they 
are  temperate  both  in  meat  and  drink, 
and  that  they  inure  themielves  to  it  by 
degrees.  I  fpeak  no  more  than  I  know 
by  experience.  It  appears  from  the  ther- 
mometer;, 


obferves,  "  That  the. {livery  eftablifhed  in  our.  co- 
lonies is  an  objedt  of  great  importance,  and  is  at-"- 
tended  with  difficulties  which  cannot  be  eafily  re- 
moved. It  has  be?n  thought  that  the  manage- 
ment of  cor  plantations  requires  a  labour  in  which 
free  men  would  not  be  willing  to  engage,  and  which 
the  wince  people  are  from  their  conHatution  in- 
capable of  performing.  How  far  this  opinion  is 
well  founded  according  to  the  pre  fen  t  manner  of 
labouring  in  that  part  of  the  world,  feems  difficult, 
to  determine,  as  it  has  never  been  properly  examin- 
ed by  thofe  who  are  in  a  condition  to  aicertain  the 
facts  in  quefiion.  But  there  is  ground  to  believe, 
that  the  inftitutioa  of  flavery  is  toe  chid  cireum- 
ftance  that  has  prevented  thofe  contrivances  to 
fhorten  and  facilitate  the  more  laborious  employ- 
ments of  thepeopie, -which  rakes  place  in  other  coun- 
tries, where  freedom  has  been  .introduced.  With 
regard  to  the  planting  of  fugar,  experiments  have 
been  made  in  foaieof  tlieiilands, from  which  it  ap- 
pears, that,  in  fome  fbecies  of  cultivation,  cattle 
might  be  employed  with  advantage,  and  that\he. 
number  of  %ves  might  be  greatly  dimimlhed  But. 
thefe  experiments  have  been  little  regarded,  in  op, 
petition  to  the  former  ufage,  and  in  oppnikiori  to  a 
lucrative  branch  of  trade  which  tneie  innovations 
would  in  a  great  meafure  deftroy.  At  .any  rate,  the 
E  3  intereft 


f4*j 

mo  meter,  that  the  fummer  heat  in  Georgia* 
is  frequently  equal  to  that  in  Barbadoes9 
yea  to  that  under  the  line.  And  yet  I 
and  my  family,  (eight  in  number)  did  em- 
ploy all  our  fpare  time  there,  in  felling  of 
trees  and  clearing  of  ground,  as  hard  labour 
as  any  negro  need  be  employed  in.  The 
German  family  likewife,  forty  in  number, 

were 


intereft  of  our  colonies  feems  to  demand,  that  the. 
negroes  fhould  be  better  treated,,  and  even  that  they; 
ihoiild  be raife&to  a  better  condition. — The. author 
of  a  late  elegant,  account  of  our  American  fettle? 
tnents,  has  propofed,  that  fmall' wages  fhould  be 
given  them,,  as  an  encouragement  to  indufiry.  If 
this  mea-fure  were  once  begun,  it  is  probable  that 
the  mailer  would  fo  on  find  the  utility  of  pufhingit 
to  a  greater  extent.  Nothing  can  appear  more 
aftoni thing  than  the  little  attention  that  has  hitherto 
been  paid  to  any  improvement  of  this  nature,  after 
the  good'dfecte  of  them  have  been  fo  fully  iiluftrat- 
ed  in  the  cafe  of  the  villains  in  Europe.  At  the. 
Jame  time,  it  affords  a  curious  fpecracle  to  obferve, 
that  the  fame  people  who  talk  in  fo  high  a  drain, 
of  political  liberty,  and  who  confident  he  privilege, 
of  impofmg  their  own  taxes,  as  one  of  the  unalien- 
able rights  of  mankind,  fhould  make  no  fcruple  of 
reducing  a  great  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  into 
circumnanccs  by  which  they  are  not  only  deprived 
of  property,  but  almoit  of  every  right  whatsoever. 
Fortune,  perhaps  never  produced  a  fituation  more 
calculated  to  ridicule  a  grave  and  even  a  liberal 
hypothecs,  or  to  (how  how  little  the  conduct  of 
mei  is  at  bottom  directed  by  any  philofbpnical 
principles:"  We. 


[43] 

were  employed  in  all  manner  of  labour* 
And  this  was  fo  far  from  impairing  our 
health,  that  we  all  continued  perfectly 
well,  while  the  idle  ones  all  round  about 
us,  were  fwept  away  as  with  a  peftilence. 
It  is  not  true  therefore  that  white  men  are 
not  able  to  labour,  even  in  hot  climates* 
full  as  well  as  black.  But  if  they  were 
not,  it  would  be  better  that  none  fhould 

labour 


'  We  have  accounts  from  England  of  fome  regula- 
tions that  have  taken  p!*abe  in  the  Spani/h  colonies, 
which  do  the  Spaniards  much  honour,  and  are  cer- 
tainly worthy  our  imitation ;.  they  are  to  the  follow- 
ing effect: — "  As  foon  as  a  flave  is  landed,  his 
name,  price,  &c.  are  regiflered  in  a  public  regifier, 
and  the  mailer  is  obliged  by  law,  to  allow  him  one 
working  day'm  every  week  tohimfelf,  be  fides  fun  days  s 
fo  that  if  the  flave  chufes  to  work  for  his  matter 
on  that  day,  he  receives  the  wages  of  a  freeman 
for  it;  and  whatever  he  gains  by  his  labour  on 
that  day,  is  fo  fecured  to  him  by  law,  that  the 
matter  cannot  deprive  him  of  it.  As  foon  as  the 
flave  is  able  to  purchafe  another  working  day,  the 
mailer  is  obliged  to  fell  it  to  him  at  a  proportion- 
able price,  viz.  one  fifth  part  or  his-  original  coft, 
and  fo  likewife  the  remaining  four  days  at  the  fame 
rate,  as  foon  as  the  flave  is  able  to  redeem  them ; 
after  which  be  is  abfolutely  free."  This  is  fuch  en- 
couragement to  induflry,  that  even  the  molt  in- 
dolent would  be  tempted  to  exert,  themfelves..  Men 
who  have  thus  worked  out  their  freedom,  are  in- 
ured to  the  labour  of  the-  country,  and  are.  certain!/ 
*  »e  moil  ufeful  fubjects  that  a  colony  can  acquire., 


[  44  I 

labour  there,  that  the  work  fhould  be  left 
Undone,  than  that  myriads  of  innocent 
nun  fhould  be  murdered,  and  myriads 
m~:  e  d  agged  into  the  baled  Haver y. 

7.  "  But  the.  fur  milling  us  with  iiaves- 
Is  ne£eflary>,  for  the  trade,  and  wealth, 
and  glory  of  our  nation :"  Here  are  fe- 
vers' es*  For  1.  Wealth  is  not  ne- 
ccfLry  to  the  glory  of  any  nation  ;  but 
wifdonij virtue,  juitice,  mercy,  generoiity, 
public  fpirit,  love  of  our  country.  Theie 
are  neceil-iry  to  the  real  glory  of  a  nation ; 
biic  abundance  of  wealth  is  not.  Men  of 
under  Handing  allow,  that  the  glory  of 
Ewhnd  was  full  ashisrh.in  Queen  Eliza- 
beth\  time  as  it  is  now:  Although  our 
riches  and  trade  were  then  ss  much 
finalier,  as  our  virtue  was  greater  J,    But,. 

Secondly,. 


%  We  are  told  in  -Hill's  naval  hiftory,  page  239, 
That  when  captain  Hawkins  returned  from  his  tird 
voyage  to  Africa^  was  fent  for  by  Queen  Elizabeth, . 
who  expxeifed  her  concern  to  him,  Uft  any  of  the 
Jfrican  negroes  (hould  be  carried  off  without  their 
free  con  fent,  declaring  it  would-,  be  deferable ,  and  call 

down  the  vengeance  of  heaven  upon  the  -undertakers . 

Captain  Hawkins  promised  to  comply  with  the 
Queen's  injunction,  but  acted  quite  contrary  to  his 
promife,  whie-h  occ afipned  that  author  to  remark, 
*'  That  here  beg^n  the  horrid  practice  of  forcing 
the  nifricans  iiuo  ill  very,  an  injuftice  and  barbarity 
which  io   fure  as  there  is  vengeance  in  heaven  for 

the 


.     [45] 

Secondly,  it  is  not  clear,  that  we  fhould 
have  either  lels  money  or  trade,  (only  lefs 
of  that  deteflable  trade  of  man-frealing) 
if  there  was  not  a  negro  in  all  our  iflands, 
or  in  all  'Englijh  America.  It  is  demonftra- 
ble,  white  men,  inured  to  it  by  degrees 
can  work  as  well  as  them :  And  they  would 
do  it,  were  negroes  out  of  the  way,  and 
proper  encouragement  given  them.  How- 
ever, Thirdly,  I  come  back  to  the  fame 
point ;  better  no  trade,  than  trade  pro- 
cured by  villany.     It  is  far  better  to  have 

no 


the  word  of  crimes,  will  fometime  be  the  deftru&ion 
of  all  who  act,  or  who  encourage  it," 

Geraldas  Cambrenfis,  a  noted  author  who  lived 
about  fix  hundred  years  paft,  in  his  obfervations 
concerning  the  cauies  of  the  profperity  of  the  Eng- 
UJh  undertakings  in  Ireland*  when  they  conquered 
that  ifland,  tells  us,  "  That  a  fynod  or  council  of 
the  clergy  being  then  affembled  at  Armagh,  and 
that  point  fully  debated,  it  was  unanimoufly  agreed, 
that  the  fins  of  the  people  were  the  occafion  of 
that  heavy  judgment  iuen  fallen  upon  their  nation  ; 
and  that  eipecially  their  buying  o>{  EngiiJJ??nen  from 
merchants  and  pirates,  and  detaining  them  under 
moft  miferable  hard  bondage,  had  caufed  the  herd 
by  way  of  juft:  retaliation,  to  leave  them  to  be  reduc- 
ed by  the  Epglijh  to  the  fame  (late  of  flavery  ;  where- 
upon they  made  a  public  act  in  that  council,  that 
all  the  Englifo  held  in  captivity  throughout  the 
whole  land  mould  be  prcfently  reftored  to  their 
former  liberty." 


[4*3 

no  wealth,  than  to  gain  wealth,  at  the  de- 
fence of  virtue.  Better  is  honeft  poverty, 
than  all  the  riches  bought  by  the  tears, 
and  fweac,  and  blood  of'  our  fellow-crea- 
tures. 

3.  "  However  this  be,  it  is  neceffary 
when  we  have  flaves,  to  ufe  them  with 
feverity."  What,  to  whip  them  for  every 
petty  offence,  till  they  are  all  in  gore 
blood  ?  To  take  that  opportunity,  of  rub- 
bing pepper  and  (alt  into  their  raw  flefh  ? 
To  drop  burning  fealing  wax  upon  their 
ikin?  To  caitrate  them?  To  cut  off  half 
their  foot  with  an  axe  ?  To  hang  tl  cm  on 
gibbets,  that  they  may  die  by  inches,  with 
heat,  and  hunger,  and  thirft  ?  To  pin 
them  down  to  the  ground,  and  then  burn 
them  by  degrees,  from  the  htt9  to  the 
head  ?  To  roaft  them  alive  ?  When  did  a 
Turk  or  a  Heathen  find  it  neceffary  to 
:ufe  a  fellow-creature  thus  ? 

I  pray,  to  what  end  is  this  ufage  necef- 
fary ?  "  Why,  to  prevent  their  running 
away :  And  to  keep  them  conftantly  to 
their  labour,  that  they  may  not  idle  away 
their  time.  So  miferably  ftupid  is  this 
race  of  men,  yea,  fo  ft ubborn,  and  fo 
wicked/'  Allowing  them  to  be  as  ftupid 
as  you  fay,  to  whom  is  that  flupidity 
owing  ?  Without  quefuon  it  lies  altoge- 
ther at.  the  door  of  their  inhuman  matters: 

Who 


C  47  ] 

Who  give  them,  no  means,  no  opportu- 
nity ot  improving  their  underftanding .: 
And  indeed  leave  them  nu  motive,  either 
from  hope  or  fear*  to  attempt  any  inch 
thing.  They  were  no  w%y  remarkable 
for  icupidity,  while  they  remained  in  their 
own  country  :  The  in hal  amts  ot  Africa 
where  they  have  equal  motives  and  equal 
means  of  improvement,  are  not  inferior 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Europe  \  To  ioine  of 
them  they  are  greatly  inferior.  Impar- 
tially furvey  in  their:  own  (country^  the 
Datives  of  Benin  an;i  die  natives  of  Lap*- 
land.  Compare,  (felting  prejudice  aiide) 
the  Samoeids  and  rhe  tfngpfaqs.  And  on 
which  fide  does  the  advantage  lie,  in  point 
of  underftandmg  ?  Certainly  the  African 
is  in  no  refpeel:  inferior  to  the  European.-- 
Their  itupidity  therefore  in  our  planta- 
tions is  not  natural ;  otherwife  than  it  is 

the  natural  effect  of  their  condition.- 

Consequently  it  is  not  their  fault,  but 
yours :  You  aiuft  anfvver  for  it,  before 
God  and  man. 

9.  ss  But  their  itupidity  is  not  the  only 
reafon  o^  our  treating  them  with  feventy. 
For  it  is  hard  to  lay,  which  is  the  greatefti 
This,  or  their  ftuhboranefe  md  wicked* 
nefs."* — It  may  b:  fo  : — Bur  do  not  titeie, 
as  well  as  the  other,  tie  at  your  doo^-  ?  Are 
not  ftubbornnefs,  cunning,  ptifenng,  and 

divers 


C'48  1 

divers  others  vices,  the  natural,  neccffary 
fruits  of  flavery  ?  Is  not  this  an  obfervati- 
on  which  has  been  made,  in  every  age  and 
nation. — And  what  means  have  you  uied 
to  remove  this  flubbornnefs  ?  Have  you 
tried  what  mildnefs  andgentlenefs  would 
do  ?  I  knew  one  that  did :  That  had 
prudence  and  patience  to  make  the  ex- 
periment :  Mr.  Hugh  Bryan,  who  then 
lived  on  the  borders  of  South-Carolina, — 
And  what  was  the  effect?  Why,  that  all 
his  negroes  (And  he  had  no  fmall  number 
of  them)  loved  and  reverenced  him  as  a 
father,  and  chearfully  obeyed  him  out  of 
love.  Yea,  they  were  more  afraid  of  a 
frown  from  him,  than  of  many  blows  from 
an  overfeer.  And  what  pains  have  you 
taken,  what  method  have  you  ufed,  to 
reclaim  them  from  their  wickednefs  ? 
Have  you  carefully  taught  them,  "  That 
there  is  a  God,  a  wife,  powerful,  merciful 
Being,  the  Creator  and  Governor  of 
Heaven  and  Earth  ?  That  he  has  appoint- 
ed a  day  wherein  he  will  judge  the  world, 
will  take  an  account  of  ail  our  thoughts, 
words  and  aclians  ?  That  in  that  day  he 
will  reward  every  child  of  man  according 
toll's  works:  That  "  then  the  righteous 
fhaH  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for 
them  from  the  foundation  of  the  world  : 
And  the  wicked  (hall  be  caji  into  ever- 

la  fling 


L  49  D 

lafting  fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his 
angels."  If  you  have  not  done  this,  if 
you  have  taken  no  pains  or  thought 
about  the  matter,  can  you  wonder  at  their 
wickednefs  ?  What  wonder,  if  they  fhould 
cut  your  throat  ?  And  if  they  did,  whom 
could  you  thank  for  it  but  yourfelf? 
You  firft  a<5ted  the  villain  in  making  them 
Haves,  (whetheryouftole  them  or  bought 
them.)  You  kept  them  fhipid  and  wick- 
ed, by  cutting  them  off  from  all  appor- 
tunities  of  improving  either  in  know- 
ledge or  virtue:  And  now  you  affign  their 
want  of  wifdorn  and  goodnefs  as  the  rea- 
fon  for  ufing  them  worfe  than  brute 
beads ! 

V.  i.  It  remains  only,  to  make  a  little 
application, of  the  preceding  obfervations. 
— But  to  whom  fhould  that  application  be 
made?  That  may  bear  a  quefHon.  Should 
we  addrefs  our  (elves  to  the  public  at 
large?  What  eftcc>  can  this  have  ?  It  may 
inflame  the  world  againit.  the  guilty,  but 
is  not  likely  to  remove  that  guilt.  Should 
we  appeal  to  the  Englljh  nation  in  general? 
This  alfo  is  ftriking  wide :  And  is  never 
likely  to  procure  any  redrefs,  for  the  fore 
evil  we  complain  of. —  As  little  would  it 
in  all  probability  avail,  to  apply  to  the  par- 
liament. So  many  things,  which  jeem  of 
greater  importance  lie  before  them  that 
F  they 


[5o] 

they  are  not  likely  to  attend  to  this.  I 
therefore  add  a  few  words  to  thofe  who 
are  more  immediately  concerned,  whether 
captains,  merchants  or  planters. 

2.  And,  firft,  to  the  captains  employed 
in  this  trade.  Moil  of  yen  know,  the 
country  of  Guinea  :  Several  parts  of  it  at 
lead,  between  the  river  Senegal  and  the 
kingdom  of  Angola,  Perhaps  now,  by 
ycur  means,  part  of  it  is  become  a  dreary 
uncultivated  wildernefs,  the  inhabitants 
being  all  murdered  or  carried  away,  fo 
that  there  are  none  left  to  till  the  ground. 
But  you  well  know,  how  populous,  how 
fruitful,  how  pleafant  it  was  a  few  years 
ago.  You  know  the  people  were  not 
ilupid,  not  wanting  in  fenfe,  confldering 
the  few  means  of  improvement  they  en- 
joyed. Neither  did  you  find  them  favage, 
£erce,  cruel,  treacherous,  or  unkind  to 
ftrangers.  On  the  contrary,  they  were 
In  moil  parts  a  fenfibie  and  ingenious 
people.  They  were  kind  and  friendly, 
courteous  and  obliging,  and  remarkably 
fair  and  juft  in  their  dealings.  Such  are 
the  men  whom  you  hire  their  own  coun- 
trymen, to  tear  away  from  this  lovely 
country;  part  by  Health,  part  by  force, 
part  made  captives  in  thofe  wars,  which 
you  raife  or  foment  on  purpofe.  You 
have  feen  them  torn  away,  children  from 

their 


[5i  ] 

their  parents,  parents  from  their  children : 
Kufbands  from  their  wives,  wives  from 
their  beloved  hufbands,  brethren  and 
lifters  from  each  ocher.  You  have  dracr- 
ged  them  who  had  never  done  you  any 
wrong,  perhaps  in  chains,  from  their  na- 
tive more.  You  have  forced  them  into 
your  fhips  like  an  herd  of  f\vxne,thern  who 
had  fouls  immortal  as  your  own:  (Only 
feme  of  them  have  leaped  into  the  lea,  and 
refoiutely  flayed  under  water,  till  they 
could  luffer  no  more  from  you.)  You  have 
flowed  them  together  as  clofe  as  ever  they 
could  lie,  without  any  regard  either  to 
decency  or  convenience. — — And  when 
many  of  them  had  been  poiioned  by  foul 
air,  or  had  funk  under  various  hardships, 
you  have  feen  their  remains  delivered  to 
the  deep,  till  the  fea  mould  give  up  his 
dead.  You  have  carried  the  furvivors  into 
the  vileft  fiavery,  never  to  end  but  with 
life :  Such  11a very  as  is  net  found  among 
the  Turks  at  Algiers,  no,  nor  among  the 
heathens  in  America. 

3.  May  I  fpeak  plainly  to  you  ?  I  mud. 
Love  cenftrains  me  :  Love  to  you%  as  well 
as  to  thofe  you  are  concerned  with. 

Is  there* a  God?  You  know  there  is.  Is 

He  ajuft  Gob?  Then  there  mud  be  a  flate 

of  retribution  :  A  flate  wherein  the  juft 

God   will  reward  every  man  according  to 

F  2  his 


r  52  3 

his  works.     Then   what   reward  will  he 

render  to  yen  f  O  think  berimes !  Before 

you  drop  into  eternity !  Think  now,  He 

fiall   have  judgment   without   mercy  >    that 

JJiewed  no  mercy. 

Are  you  a  man  f  Then  you  fliould  have 
an  human  heart.  But  have  you  indeed  ? 
What  is  your  heart  made  of?  Is  there  no 
fuch  principle  as  cornpaflion  there  ?  Do 
you  never  feel  another's  pain  ?  Have  you 
no  fympathy  ?  No  fenfe  of  human  woe  ? 
No  pity  for  the  miferahle?  When  you  faw 
the  flowing  eyes,  the  heaving  breads,  or 
the  bleeding  fides  and  tortured  limbs  of 
your  fellow-creatures,  was  you  a  iione, 
or  a  brute?  Did  you  look  upon  them  with 
the  eyes  of  a  tiger?  When  you  fqueezed 
the  agonizing  creatures  down  in  the  fhip, 
or  ivhen  you  threw  their  poor  mangled 
remains  into  the  fea,  had  you  no  relent- 
ing ?  Did  not  one  tear  drop  from  your 
eye,  one  iigh  efcape  from  your  breaft  r  Do 
you  feel  no  relenting  mmf  If  you  doftot3 
you  mufi  go  on,  till  the  meafure  of your 
iniquities  is  full.  Then  will  the  great 
God  deal  with you,  as  you  have  dealt  with 
them,  and  require  ail  their  blood  at  your 
hands.  And  at  that  day  it  {hall  be  more 
tolerable  for  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  than  for 
you!  But  if  your  heart  does  relent,  though 
in  a  iniall  degree,  know  it  is  a  call  from 

the 


[53  3 

the  God  of  love.  And  to  day,  if  you 
hear  his  voice,  harden  not  your  heart.— 
To  day  refolve,  God  being  your  helper, 
to  efcape  for  your  life.-— — Regard  not 
money  !  All  that,  a  man  hath  will  he  give 
for  his  life?  Whatever  you  lofe,  lofe  not 
your  foul :  nothing  can  countervail  that 
lofs.  Immediately  quit  the  horrid  trade : 
At  all  events,  be  an  honelt  man. 

4.  This  equally  concerns  every  mer- 
chant, who  is  engaged  in  the  Uave-trade, 
It  hycu  that  induce  the  African  vilhim  to 
fell  his  countrymen  ;  and  in  order  there- 
to, to  fteal,  rob,  murder  men,  women  and 
children  without  number :  By  enabling 
tht  Englijh  villain  to  pay  him  for  fo  doing  5 
whom  you  over  pay  for  his  execrable 
labour.-  It  is  your  money,  that  is  the  fpring 
of  all,  that  Empowers  him  to  go  on  :  So 
that  whatever  he  or  the  African  does  in 
this  matter,  is  SR'ycttr  aet  and  deed.  A?d 
is  your  confeience  quite  reconciled  to  this? 
Does  it  never  reproach  you  at  all  ?  Has 
gold  entirely  blinded  your  eyes,  and  ilu- 
pified  your  heart  ?  Can  you  fee,  can  you 
feel  no  harm  therein  ?  Is  it  doing  as  yGU 
would  be  done  to  ?  Make  the  cafe  your 
own.  "  Mailer,  (faid  a  Have  at  Liverpool 
to  the  merchant  that  owned  him)  "what 
if  fome  oi  my  countrymen  were  to  come 
here,  and  take  away  my  miftrefs,  and  maf- 
F  3  ter 


L  54  ] 

ter  Tommy,  and  matter  Bitty*  and  carry 
them  into  our  country,  and  make  them 
Haves,  how  would  you  like  it  ?"  His  an- 
fvcer  was  worthy  of  a  man:  "  I  wilt 
never  buy  a  Have  more  while  I  live."  O 
let  his  refolution  he  yours !  Have  no  more 
any  part  in  this  detettable  hufinefs.  Ia- 
flantly  leave  it  to  thofe  unfeeling  wretches,. 
"  Who  laugh  at  human  nature  and  com- 
panion l"  Be  you  a  man!  Not  a  wolf,  & 
devourer  of  the  human  fpecies!  Be  mer- 
ciful, that  you  may  obtain  mercy  I 

5.  And  this  equally  concerns  ever j 
gentleman  that  has  an  eft  ate  in  our  Ameri- 
can plantations :  Yea  all  Have-holders  of 
whatever  rank  and  degree ;  feeing  men.- 
buyers  are  exactly  on  a  level  with  men.- 
Jieakrs.  Indeed  you  fay,  "  I  pay  honeflly 
for  my  goods :  and  I  am  not  concerned  to 
know  how  they  are  come  by."  Nay,  but 
you  are  :  You  are  deeply  concerned*  to 
know  they  are  honeflly  come  by.  Other- 
wife  you  are  partaker  with  a  thief,  and 
are  not  a  jot  honefter  than  him.  But  you 
know,  they  are  not  honeflly  come  by : 
You  know  they  are  procured  by  means, 
nothing  near  fo  innocent  as  picking  of 
pockets,  houfe-breaking,  or  robbery  upon 
the  highway.  You  know  they  are  pro- 
cured by  a  deliberate  feries  of  more  com- 
plicated viilany,  of  fraud,  robbery  and 

murder) 


C  55  1 

murder)  than  was  ever  practifed  either  by 
Mahometans  or  Pagans:  in  particular  by- 
murders,  of  all  kinds ;  by  the  blood  of 
the  innocent  poured  upon  the  ground  like 
water.  Now  it  is  your  money  that  pays 
the  merchant,  and  thro'  him  the  captain, 
and  the  African  butchers.  Tou  therefore 
are  guilty,  yea,  principally  guilty,  of  all 
theie  frauds, robberies  and  murders.  You 
are  the  fpring  that  puts  all  the  reft  in  mo- 
tion :  they  would  not  flir  a  ftep  without 
you  : — Therefore  the  blood  of  all  thefe 
•wretches,  who  die  before  their  time,  whe- 
ther in  their  country,  or  elfewhere  lies 
upon  your  head.  The  blood  of  thy  brother, 
(for,  whether  thou  wilt  believe  it  or  no, 
fuch  he  is  in  the  fight  of  him  that  made 
him}  crieth  againft  thee  from  the  earthy  from 
the  Ihip,  and  from  the  waters.  O,  what- 
ever it  colls,  put  a  ftop  to  its  cry  before  it 
be  too  late.  Inftantly,  at  any  price,  were 
it  the  half  of  your  goods,  deliver  thyfelf 
from  blood-guiltinefs  I  Thy  hands,  thy 
bed,  thy  furniture,  thy  houfe,  thy  lands 
are  at  prefent  flamed  with  blood.  Surely 
it  is  enough  ;  accumulate  no  more  guilt : 
fpill  no  more  the  blood  of  the  innocent! 
Do  not  hire  another  to  fhed  blood  :  Do 
not  pay  him  for  doing  it !  Whether  you 
are  a  chriftian  or  no,  ihew  yourfelf  a  man; 
be  not  more  favage  than  a  lion  or  a  bear! 

6.  Perhaps 


[5*] 

6*.  Perhaps  you  will  fay,  "  I  do  not  buy 
any  negroes  :  I  only  ufe  thofe  left  me  by 

my  father/' So  far  is  well*  but  is  it 

enough  to  fatisfy  your  own  confcience? 
Had  your  father,  havfe  you9  has  any  man 
living,  a  right  to  ufe  another  as  a  Have  ? 
It  cannot  be,  e^efi  letting  revelation  a  fide. 
It  cannot  be,  that  cither  war,  or  contract, 
can  give  any  man  foeh  a  property  in  ano- 
ther as  he  has  in  ins  fheep  and  oxen.  Much 
Icls  is  it  pofRbte,  that  any  child  of  man, 
mould  ever  be  born  a  jlavs.  Liberty  is 
the  right  of  every  human  creature,  as  foon 
as  he  breathes  the  vital  air.  And  no 
human  law  can  deprive  him  of  that  right, 
which  he  derives  from  the  law  of  nature. 

If  therefore  you  have  any  regard  to 
juflice,  (to  fay  nothing  of  mercy,  nor  of 
the  revealed  law  of  God)  render  unto  all 
their  due.  Give  liberty  to  whom  liberty 
is  due,  that  is  to  every  child  of  man,  to 
every  partaker  of  human  nature.  Let 
none  ferve  you  but  by  his  own  act  and 

dted*  by  his  own  voluntary  choice. 

Away  with  all  whips,  all  chains,  all  com- 
pulfion  !  Be  gentle  towards  all  men.  And 
fee  that  you  invariably  do  unto  every 
one,  as  you  would  he  thould  do  unto  you. 

7.  O  thou  God  of  love,  thou  who  art 
loving  to  every  man,  and  whofe  mercy  is 
over  all  thy  works :  Thou  who  art  the 

father 


[57] 

father  of  the  fpirits  of  all  flem,  and  who 
art  rich  in  mercy  unto  all :  Thou  who  hail 
mingled  of  one  blood,  all  the  nations  upon 
earth  :  Have  companion  upon  thefe  out- 
cads  of  men,  who  are  trodden  down  as 
dung  upon  the  earth!  Arife  and  help  thefe 
that  have  no  helper,  whofe  blood  is  fpilt 
upon  the  ground  like  water !  Are  not 
thefe  alfo  the  work  of  thine  own  hands, 
the  purchafe  of  thy  Son's  blood?  Stir  them 
up  to  cry  unto  thee  in  the  land  of  their 
captivity  ;  and  let  their  complaint  come 
up  before  thee  ;  let  it  enter  into  thy  ears! 
Make  even  thofe  that  lead  them  away  cap- 
tive to  pity  them,  and  turn  their  capti- 
vity as  the  rivers  in  the  fouth.  O  burll 
thou  all  their  -chains  in  funder  ;  more 
efp^cially  the  chains  of  their  fins  :  Thou, 
Saviour  of  all,  make  them  free,  that  they 
may  be  free  indeed  ! 

The  fervile  progeny  of  Ham 

Seize  as  the  purchafe  of  thy  blood; 

Let  all  the  heathen  know  thy  name : 
From  idols  to  the  living  God 

The  dark  Americans  convert, 

And  ihine  in  every  pagan  heart  \ 


I      N      I 


[  53] 


IMILAR  caufes  will  produce  fiznilar 
j^3  effects ;  the  dreadful  confequence  of 
flavery  is  die  fame  arnongft  every  people 
and  in  every  nation  where  it  prevails: 
this  truth  is  verified  in  the  following 
accounts  of  the  inhuman  treatment  the 
negroes  met  with  both  from  the  Hollanders 
and  the  French. 

The  firfl  is  taken  from  the  late  writings 
of  Edward  Bancroft L,  an  Englijb  phyilcian, 
who  redded  fonie  years  in  that  part  of 
America,  called  Dutch  Guiana,  which  in- 
cludes the  feveral  fettlements  of  Surinam, 
Barbices,  Demarara^  &c.  The  infenfibiiity 
with  which  this  author  relates  and  vin- 
dicates the  cruelties  and  indignities  ex- 
ercifed,  by  the  Dutch,  on  the  miferable 
Africans ,fhew  that  the  advantage  accruing 
to  him  from  the  labour  of  the  ilaves,  as 
well  as  his  connection  with  their  opprtf- 
fors,  had  its  ufual  and  natural  effects,  in 
obfcuringhis  underftanding,  and  hardning 
his  heart  againfl  the  dictates  of  reafoa 
and  humanity. 

The 


159] 

The  French  author  appears  to  have  been 
in  a  very  different  fituation  ;  he  was  an 
officer  belonging  to  the  troops  quartered 
in  the  id  and  Mauri  tus,  now  called  The  Ifle 
of  France?  who  not  reaping  any  advantage 
from  the  labour  of  the  Haves,  nor  having 
any  dependence  on  the  planters,  his  mind 
remained  fo  unprejudiced,  that  the  dic- 
tates of  reaibii  and  tender  feelings  of  hu- 
manity, had  tree  liberty  to.  exert  thena- 
felves. 

~Doctor  Banc  reft  rwhiltt  he  is  giving  his 
readers  a  genuine  relation  of  the  prodi- 
gious oppreiHon  and  cruelty  exercifed  on 
the  negroes,  advances  fuch  arguments  in 
defence  of  the  practice  of  flavery.as  are, 
indeed,  a  dimonour  to  reaibn,  and  (hock- 
ing to  humanity.  He  tells  ^us,  "  That 
"  the  labour  of  the  country  is-almoff. 
"  wholly  performed  by  negroes— — -that 
"  they  are  kept  at  a  fubmiffive  and  hum- 
"  ble  diftance,  by  feverity  of  diiclpline," 
which  he  is  fo  hardned  as  to  fay,  <<  not 
■"  only  contributes  to  the  fafety  of  the 
C!i  white  inhabitants,  but  even  the  happi- 
"  nefs  of  the  Haves,  becaufe,  adds  he,  the 
"  impoflibility  of  attaining  is  ever  found 
"  to  deftroy  the  defire  of  enjoyment,  and 
s€  rigid  treatment,  by  annihilating  every 
"  hope  of  liberty,  renders  the  Haves  con- 
"  tent  with  the  enjoyment  of  flavery."— 

Ke 


He  acknowledges,   "  That  the  negroes 
4C  are  indeed   fpurred  to  induftry  by  the 
"  whip  of  correction,  which  is  ever  at 
44  their  heels,  and  not  fpai  ingly  exercifed ; 
*<  but,  that  there  is  no  medium  :  either 
4C  the  minds  of  the  flaves  muft  be  de- 
44  prefTed  by   abject  flavery,  or  the  lives 
4t  of  the  matters  are  in  imminent  danger: 
44  For  this  reafon  (he  fays)    they    hav^ 
"  been  oppreffed   by  many  humiliating 
44  penalties  and    diftinctions.     The   evi- 
44  dence  of  liaves  relating  to  white  perfons 
44  are  of  no  validity.  An  attempt  to  ftrike 
6i  a   white  inhabitant  is  puniihed   with 
44  death,  Their  mailers  or  overfeers  have 
44  not  only  the  power  of  inflicting  cor- 
44  poral    puniihment,    but   are   in   fome 
44  meafure  allowed  to  exercife  a  right  over 
44  their   lives,  fince  the  putting  a  negro 
44  to  death  is  attended  only  with  a  pecu- 
44  niary  punifhment.    In  which  fituation, 
44  he  con  f  dies,  they  are  fubject  to  many 
44  complicated  fpecies  of  mifery,  expofed 
*4  to  the  tyranny  of  the  imperious,  and 
44  lull  of  the  libidinous ;  and  to  an  in- 
44  cefTant  toil  which  will  have  no  period 
46  but  with  their  lives."     Thus  this  au- 
thor thro*  the  wnoie  of  his  reafoning,  ma- 
niieitly  (hews  the  depraving  effect  which 
the  fight  and  practice  of  thole  hard  and 
cruel  measures  which  are  at  tend  an  c  on 

llaveiy, 


C  6t  1 

flaVery,  has  upon  the  heart  and  reafon  of 

men,  otherwife  of  good  judgment. 

Hence  he  adds,  "  That  tho*  this  treat- 
"  ment  has  the  appearance  of  cruelty,  and 
"  cannot  be  reconciled  to  the  principles 
"  of  juftice  and  equity,  yet  many  things 
5€  which  are  repugnant  to  humanity y  may 
"  be  excufed  on  account  of  their  necefkty 
"  and  for  felf-prefervation." — Speaking 
of  the  proviiion  made  for  the  negroes  in 
food  and  cloathing,  he  fays,  "  The  ex- 
"  pence  of  maintaining  them  in  this 
*6  climate  is  very  trifling— they  are 
"  affigned  a  piece  of  ground,  from  this 
"  the  flave  is  fupplied  with  a  fufficient 
"  flock  for  his  fuftenanee ;  on  which 
"  however  he  is  not  allowed  to  labour 
"  but  only  on  fundays ;  receiving  from 
"  his  matter  a  weekly  allowance  of  dried 
"  fiih  to  the  amount  of  a  pound  and  an 
"  half;  which  is  all  that  his  matter  con- 
"  tributes  towards  his  food.  The  females 
"  receive  the  fame  treatment,  and  the 
"  drink  of  both  is  nothing  but  water : 
"  yet  from  this  water  and  vegetables, 
"  with  amorfeiof  dried  fiih,  theie  people 
*  derive  fufficient  nutriment  to  fuftain 
"  the  hardett  labour  in  ikfi  moil  enervat- 
"  ing  climate.  The  cloathing  of  the  ne- 
**  groes  (who  work  in  the  fields)  is  fcarce 
J  futtlcient  to  aniwer'  the  demands  of 
G  "  modefty. 


I62  J 

"  modefty.  If  any  of  them  have  either 
"  fhirts,  breeches,  or  petticoats,  they  are 
"  the  produce  of  their  private  induftry, 
f*  as  their  mailers  furnifh  only  a  piece  of 
<c  coarfe  blue  or  brown  linen,  which  is 
<c  applied  to  the  middle,  in  both  fexes, 
"  and  a  blanket  with  which  the  flave 
"  covers  himfelf  at  night ;  fleeping  on 
"  boards  only." 

The  account  given  by  the  French  officer 
of  the  difpofition  of  the  blacks,  and  the 
treatment  they  received  from  his  coun- 
trymen on  the  ifLand  Mauritius,  is  as  affect- 
ing as  the  former,  tho*  apparently  wrote 
from  a  different  motive  and  in  a  quite 
different  fpirit.  He  informs  us,  that  the 
Haves  who  are  employed  in  the  cultivation 
of  that  ifland,  are  brought  chiefly  from 
the  ifland  Madagafcar,  fituate  about  two 
hundred  leagues  diftance. 

"  That  thefe  black  men,  whofe  features 
bear  a  nearer  fimilitude  to  the  Europeans 
than  the  negroes  of  Guinea,  are  handy, 
intelligent,  and  fenfible  of  honour:  In 
their  own  country  they  apply  themfelves 
to  many  little  handicrafts  with  great  in- 
duftry ;  they  are  paffionately  fond  of 
dancing  and  mufic;  their  inftrument  is  a 
kind  of  bow,  to  which  a  calibafli  is  fixed  ; 
from  which  they  draw  a  foft  kind  of  har- 
mony, accompanied  with  fongs  of  their 

own 


r  *3i 

own  compofition.  Love  is  always  the 
fubjecl:.  The  girls  dance  to  the  fong  of 
their  lovers  ;  the  fpe&ators  beat  time.— 
Thefe  poor  people  in  their  own  country- 
are  extremely  hofpitable :  when  a  black 
in  Madagafcar  is  on  his  journey,  he  goes 
into  the  fir  ft  houfe  that  fuits  his  exigency, 
and  tho'  unknown,  the  family,  (hare  their 
provifions  with  him.  He  is  neither  afked 
whence  he  comes  nor  whither  he  goes:, 
it  is  the  cuftom  of  the  country.  With  fuch 
arts  and  fuch  manners  thefe  black  people 
are  brought  to  the  ifland  Mauritius  to  la- 
bour for  the  whites.  They  are  fet  on  fhore 
xmite  naked,  except  a  rag  that  covers  their 
loiiis  ;  the  men  are  ranged  on  one  fide 
and  the  women  on  the  other,  with  their 
little  children,  who  cling  about  the  mother 
thro'  fear.  The  planter  examines  the 
whole,  and  purchafes  fuch  as  (bits  him. 
Brothers,  fillers,  friends,  lovers,  are  fepa- 
rated  ;  they  take  leave  of  each  other 
with  tears,  and  depart  for  the  plantation. 
Thefe  blacks  are  naturally  of  a  joyous 
temper  ;  but  after  fome  years  of  (lavery 
they  grow  melancholy. — The  treatment 
they  receive  from  their  matters  is  rigor- 
ous :  at  day  break,  three  cracks  of  the 
whip  are  the  (ignal  that  calls  them  to 
work:  each  (lave  appears  in  the  plantation 
with  their  mattock  ;  here  they  work  al- 
G  2  moil 


r  m  i 

moil  naked  in  the  heat  of  the  fun.  Far 
the  leaft  neglect  they  are  bound  hand  and 
feet  on  a  ladder  ;  their  commander  arm- 
ed with  a  poftiilions  whip  Rands  over 
them,  and  gives  them  on  their  naked 
pofteriors  fifty,  an  hundred,  or  two 
hundred  lames.  Every  lafh  brings  oJGTthe 
ikin.  The  poor  wretch  covered  with 
blood,  is  let  loofe,  and  dragged  back  to 
his  work.  Some  of  thefe  miferable  crea- 
tures on  being  thus  chaftifed,  are  not  able 
to  fit  down  for  a  month  after.  The 
women  are  punifhed  in  the  fame  manner. 
There  h  a  law  made  by  the  French  king 
in  their  favour,  called  the  black  code : 
this  law  ordains  that  at  each  pimifhment 
they  ihali  receive  no  more  than  thirty 
ladies  j  that  they  {hall  not  be  obliged  to 
work  on  Tundays  ;  that  they  {hall  have 
their  provifion  v/eekly,  and  their  ihirts 
yearly :  but  this  law  is  not  obferved. 
Sometimes  when  they  grow  old,  they  are 
turned  adrift  to  get  their  living  as  they 
can.  One  day  I  faw  one  of  them  who 
was  nothing  but  fkin  and  bone  cutting 
iiefh  from  a  dead  horfe  to  eat.  It  appear- 
ed to  be  one  fkeleton  devouring  another. 
— i — They  have  occasionally  the  confola- 
tion  of  religion  propofed  to  them,  and  are 
from  time  to  time  baptifed.  They  are 
told  that  they  are  made  brethren  of  the 

whites. 


whites,  and  fliaU  go  to  heaven  ;  but  they 
hardly  know  how  to  believe  the  Europeans 
ihould  conduct  them  to  heaven,  whilft 
they  are,  they  fay,  the  caufe  of  all  their 

fuiferings  on  earth. They  frequently 

refufe  us,  fay  they,  neceffary  meat  and 
cloaths,  and  beat  us  cruelly  without  rea- 
fon  :  of  this  I  have  feen  many  inilances. 
A  flave,  almoft  white,  threw  herfclf  one 
day  at  my  feet ;  her  miftrefs  made  her 
rife  early  and  watch  late  :  if  me  chanced 
to  fleep,  ihe  rubbed  her  mouth  with  or- 
dure :  and  if  (lie  did  not  lick  her  lips,  (he 
commanded  her  to  be  whipt ;  fhe  begged 
of  me  to  folicit  her  pardon,  which  ilie  ob- 
tained. Sometimes  the  mailers  of  thefe 
wretches  grant  fuch  requefl.  and  within 
two  days  double  their  punifhment,  reck- 
oning in  tale  of  laalies  what  they  had  pro - 
felfedly  forgiven.  A  counfellor  of  whom 
fome  blacks  had  complained  to  the  go- 
vernor, affured  me,  that  tho'  they  were 
exempted  from  punifhment  that  day,  the 
next  he  would  have  them  flead  from  head 
to  foot. — In  fhort,  when  thofe  wretched 
creatures  can  no  longer  fupport  their  con- 
dition, they  fink  into  defpair.  Some  of 
them  put  a  period  to  their  lives  by  poifon 
or  the  halter:  others- throw  themfelves  in- 
to fome  petty  bout,  without  fails,  without 
comgafs,  without  provifion:  in  this  man- 
G  3,  ner 


V&4 

ner  they  hazard  a  paffage  of  two  hundred 
leagues  to  return  to  the  Ifland  of  Mada- 
gascar y  from  whence  they  were  brought. 
1  have  known  them  land   there,  be  re- 
taken and  returned- to  their  mailers,     la 
general  they   take  refuge  in  the  woods 
where  they  are  hunted  by  detachments 
of  foldiers,    negroes,    and  dogs.     Plan- 
ters there  are  who  make  on  fuch  occa- 
iions  a  party  of  pleafure.     They  are  at- 
tacked with  the  fpear,  like  wild   beads. 
When  they  cannot  be  reached  this  way 
they  are  (hot.     Their  heads  are  cut  off 
and  carried  in  triumph  to  town  on  the  end 
of  a  pole.     This  is  what  I  have  feen  al- 
moft  weekly — — I  have  feen  them  hang- 
ed and  broke  alive,    they  went  to  their 
punifhment  with  pleafure  and  fupported 
it    without    complaint.      I    have   teen    a 
woman,  throw  herfelf  voluntarily  from 
the  ladder.     They    cry   that   in   another 
world  they  /ball ]  find  a  happier  life,    and 
that  the  father  of  mankind  is  notfo  unjuft 
as  man—* — -I  have  daily  beheld  men  and 
women  whipt  in  the  manner  before  de- 
fcribed  for  having  broken  a  pot,  or  for- 
got to  flint  a  gate,    their  bloody  limbs 
afterwards  rubbed  with  vinegar  and  fait 

to  heal    them. 1    have  feen    them 

in  the  excefs  of  their  anguifh  unable  to 
cry  any  longer. — — ■— I  have  feen  theai 

bite 


C^7] 

bite   the    cannon   on    which  they  were 

bound. 1  ficken  at  the  recital  of  thefe 

horrors. My    eyes    ach   with  feeing 

them — — My  ears  with  hearing  them. 
Here  I  fee  poor  negro-  women  bending  o'er 
their  fpades,  their  naked  children  bound 
upon  their   backs  r    Miserable  creatures 

that  tremble  as  they  pafs  before  me. 

Sometimes    I   hear   the    found    of  their 
♦  drum,    but  more  frequently  the  found 
of  whips  cracking  in  the  air  like  the  re- 
port of  a  piilol;  and  the  heart  rending 

cries  of  mercy,  maft&r  mercy, If  the 

unfortunate  creatures  would  complam. 
that  the  laws  in  their  favour  are  not  ob- 
ferved  to  whom  can  they  complain  ;  their 
judges  are  often  their  greateft  tyrants 
(witnefs  the  eounfellor  before  mentioned) 
It  is  alleged  that  without  this  feverity, 
it  is  impoffible- to  manage  the  Haves,  you 
inuft  have  punifhments  and  pains,  iron 
collars  with  braces,  whips,,  blocks  to 
bind  them  by  the  foot,  and  chains  to 
go  round  their  necks.  They  muft  in 
ihort  be  treated  like  beafts^,  that  the 
whites  may  live  like  men.  Can  we  won- 
der at  reafoning  like  this  ?  "  Where  there 
&i  is  injuftice  in  the  principle,  there 
"  muft  be  inhumanity  in  the  confe- 
^  qjjeuce^ 

I  am 


r  68  3 

I  am  mortified  when  I  think  that  thoie 
phiJofophers,  who  have  fhcwn  fo  much 
fortitude  in  their  attacks  of  moral  and 
religious  abufes,  have  not  mentioned  the 

poor   negroes They    turn   from    the 

view  of  their  misfortunes,  they  talk  of 
the  ma-fiacre  of  the  Mexicans  by  the 
Spaniards,  as  if  that  crime  were  not  the 
guilt  of  their  own  days  ;  a  guilt  in  which 
half  Europe  is  concerned.  Is  k  a  greater 
crime  at  once  to  ailiilinate  a  people  who 
differ  from  us  in  opinion,  than  to  hold 
in  living  torments,  a  race  of  men  who 
labour  for  the  gratification  of  our  palates 
and  appetites,  our  internal  and  external 
luxuries  V* 

If  it  is  aliedged  in  anfwer  to  thefe  nar- 
ratives, that  fuch  cruelties  may  indeed 
be  pradifed  by  the  Hollanders  and  French, 
but  that  they  are  feldom  ufed  amongft 
the  Englifh,  to  this  it  may,  with  truth, 
be  replied,  that  tho'  different  circum- 
ftances  may  occafton  a  variation  of  con- 
duct in  different  places,  yet  there  is  in 
effect  but  little  difference ;  wherever 
flavery  is  practifed,  and  an  unlawful  de- 
fire  of  gain  prevails,  it  will  have  its  natu- 
ral effect:,,  it  will  harden  the  heart,  and 
induce  to  the  ufe  of  hard  and  cruel  mea- 
fuxes,    to  obtain  the  end  propofed.    Its 

generally 


L  69  ] 

generally  thought  that  the  Hollanders 
exercife  a  greater  degree  of  rigour  and 
cruelty  towards  their  flaves,  than  the 
Englifh.  Neverthelefs  our  nation  is  in 
forne  cafes  faid  to  exceed  the  former.  An 
Inftance  of  this  is  related  by  Captain  Cook 
before  mentioned,  who  on  his  return 
in  his  voyage  round  the  world,  at  page 
797.  when  at  the  IfLand  St.  Helena's, 
belonging  to  the  Englijh,  tells  us,  "  that 
"  the  negro-flaves  are  very  numerous  in 

"  that   ifiand. That  they  appear  to 

"  be  a  miserable  race,  worn  out  by  exce£ 
"  five  labour,  and  partly  by  ill  ufage, 
"  of  which  they  frequently  com  plain," 
he  adds,  I  am  very  forry  to  fay,  "  that 
<c  in/lances  of  wanton  cruelty  are  much  more 
"  frequent  among  my  country-men.  here,  than 
"  among  the  Dutch,  who  are,  and  ferhaps 
c:  not  without  reafon,  generally  reproached 
"  with  want  of  humanity,  at  Batavia  and 
"  the  Cape,,f 

The  foregoing  accounts  of  the  cruel 
ufage  the  miferable  Africans  find,  with 
little  variation  in  ail  places  and  amongft 
every  people  where  flavery  prevails,  will 
doubtlefs  be  grevious  to  fuch  who  feci 
for  the  caufe  of  humanity  and  juftice. 
Nor  is  it  to  be  expecled  that  there  will 
be  any  amendment,  whiift  the  deffici- 
encies  which  happen  by  deaths,    can  fa 

eafily 


[  7o] 

eafily  be  made  up  by  frefh  imports,  and 
the  lives  of  the  miferable  negroes  are  left 
to  the  caprice  and  paflion  of  their  own- 
ers, or  their  overfeers,  more  efpecially 
as  thefe  lail  generally  expect  favour  from 
their  mailers,  in  proportion  to  the  fugar, 
&c.  they  caufe  to  be  made,  without  any 
check  from  the  laws,  which,  rather  coun- 
tenance the  murder  of  the  flaves,  if  done, 
or  laid  to  be  u  done  by  way  of  chaflije- 
"  went"  And  even  when  it  is  pub- 
Hckly  known  that  the  death  of  a  flave 
has  been  occafioned  thro1  "  bloody  mind- 
u  ednefs  or  wanton  cruelty"  yet  agree- 
able to  the  prevailing  opinion,  that  the 
fpirits  of  the  flaves  mult  be  kept  down 
by  the  moil  humiliating  diftin&ions,  and 
feverity  of  difcipline  ;  the  profecution  of 
fuch  murders  is  difcouraged^,  indeed 
great  difficulties  would  attend  thofe  who 
would  attempt  it,  as  it  is  feldom  that 
any  white  perfon  is  prefent  when  fuch 
murder  is  committed,  except  the  over- 
feer  or  his  dependants ;  and  that  the  evi- 
dence of  the  negroes  is  of  no  validity 
againft  the  whites.  Hence  the  lives  of 
the  poor  flaves  are  in  every  refpecl,  in  a 
very  precarious  fituation,  fubject  to  thje 
paffian  and  rage  of  thofe  who  have  the 
rule  over  them,  and  the  fpilling  of  their 
blood  unnoticed  by  thofe  who  ought  to 

pro tech 


C  7i  ] 

protect  them  ;  neverthelefs,  it  is  not  hid 
from  the  all-feeing  eye  of  God,  and  will 
doubtlefs  remain,  tho'  a  covered,  yet  ac- 
cumulated ftore  of  divine  difpleafure  a- 
gainft  the  perpetrators  of  it. 

And  here  it  may  not  be  improper  to 
lay  before  the  reader  a  few  inftances 
from  the  many,  very  many,  which  might 
be  given  of  the  {hocking  cruelties  exer- 
cifed  on  the  miferable  negroes,  being  a 
linking  inftance  of  the  dreadful  infenfi- 
bility  which  the  habit  of  hard  and  cruel 
meafures  will  gradually  introduce  in  the 
human  heart. 

The  firft  inftance  was  related  by  a  per- 
fon  who  furnifhed  the  compiler  with  the 
advertifement  from  North-Carolina,  viz. 
That  whilft  he  was  there  a  negro  wo- 
man flying  into  the  woods,  probably 
from  ill  ufage,  was  purfued  by  the  over- 
feer,  who  having  met  with  her,  after 
cruelly  beating  her,  faftned  her  to  his 
horfe,  fo  to  drag  rather  than  lead  her  ; 
that  before  he  reached  the  houfe  me  was 
a  dead  corpfe.  Such  ufage  of  a  fellow- 
creature  appeared  moft  unnatural  and 
cruel  to  the  relater  ;  but  what  moft  fur- 
prized  him  was,  to  find  that  this  poor 
creature's  life  being  taken  away  in  fo 
brutal  a  manner,  made  no  impreflion  on 
the  minds  of  the  people  \   it  raifed  no 

indignation 


r  n  1 

indignation  againft  the  murderer,  or 
commiferation  for  the  unhappy  victim  ; 
they  feemed  quite  hardned  to  fuch  fcenes. 
He  heard  but  one  perfon  take  any  man- 
ner of  notice  of  the  matter. 

Another  inftance  fell  under  the  imme- 
diate notice  of  a  perfon  of  credit,  when 
in  the  ifland  of  Jamaica,  now  refiding 
in  this  city.  Hearing  a  grievous  cry, 
he  went  to  the  place  from  whence  it 
came,  where  he  faw  a  young  negro  wo- 
man of  about  eighteen  years  of  age, 
fwung  by  her  hands,  with  heavy  weights 
at  her  feet,  and  a  man  lafhing  her  naked 
body  with  a  hard  whip  ;  making  paufes 
from  time  to  time,  and  flinging  pickle 
or  fait  and  water  on  the  wounds,  the 
whip  had  made.  The  fight  was  fo  hor- 
rible, that  he  turned  from  it  and  came 
home.  Sometime  after,  looking  out,  he 
faw  this  fame  young  woman  carried  dead 
on  a  board  :  She  had  been  cruelly  whip- 
ped to  death  ;  neither  did  he  obferve 
that  this  pitious  fpeclacle  drew  the 
concern  or  hardly  attention  of  the  peo- 
ple. 

A  third  inftance  happened  in  Charles- 
Town,  in  the  prefence  of  a  perfon  now 
refiding  there.  A  veffei  had  taken  in  a 
number  of  flaves,  on  the  coaft  of  Guinea, 
amongft  chefe  was  a  man,  who  probably 

from 


C  73] 

from  the  dignity  of  his  fituation  in  his 
own  country,  or  from  fome  other  caufe, 
did  not  fhew  fuch  fubmiffion  as  the  fhip's 
people  expected  and  require  of  ilaves. 
They  attempted  to  tie  him  with  ropes, 
but  that  not  anfwering  their  purpofe, 
they  confined  him  in  irons,  and  other- 
wife  fo  tormented  him  during  their  paf- 
fage  from  Guinea,  in  order  to  bring  down 
his  fpirit,  that  when  they  arrived  at 
Charles-Town,  he  was  in  fo  weak  a  con- 
dition as  to  be  fcarce  able  to  \valk  to  the 
place  of  fale,  but  as  he  was  urged  on 
with  the  whip.  When  the  ilaves  re* 
turned  in  the  evening,  this  man  remain- 
ing unfold,  was  forced  along  with  the 
reft  towards  the  veffel,  he  walked  on 
for  a  while*,  till  he  came  to  the  market- 
place, where  he  fell ;  but  the  whip  being 
exercifed  upon  him,  he  rofe,  and  going 
on  a  little  farther  dropt  down  dead* 
The  relater,  a  perfon  of  credit,  faw  the 
tranfaction,  and  exclaimed  againft  the 
barbarity  ;  but  no  notice  was  taken,  ei- 
ther judicially  or  other  wife  ;  he  was 
dragged  along  and  flung  into  the  fea, 
to  be  devoured  by  the  iharks. 

The  lait  inftance  I  mall  mention,  hap- 
pened in  Carolina,  on  board  a  veifel  with 
Ilaves  from  Guinea,  related  by  a  per- 
fon lately  in  this  city  from  thence.    It 


[  74] 

ieems  the  poor  negroes  had  let  in  a  per- 
fuafion,  from  a  fire  appearing  on  the 
fhore,  that  the  white  people  propofed 
to  put  them  to  death  ;  this  made  them 
unwilling  to  leave  the  fliip :  However 
they  were  ail  made  to  comply  except 
one  man,  who  had  taken  fo  ftrong  hold 
of  fome  part  of  the  (hip,  that  the  failors 
were  not  able  toloofe  him.  This  raifed 
the  anger  of  the  captain  to  fo  great  a 
degree,  that  he  (truck  the  poor  fellow 
fo  hard  a  blow,  with  fomething  like  an 
handfpike,  as  broke  both  his  arms, 
whereby  the  captain  looking  upon  the 
fellow  as  difabled  and  unfit  for  fale, 
gave  him  another  blow  on  the  head, 
which  caufed  his  brains  to  fly  about  the 
veflel, 

"  We  know,  fays  a  late  refpeclable 
author,  that  the  negroes  (employed  in 
our  plantations)  are  purchafed  from 
their  princes  in  Guinea,  who  pretend  to 
have  a  right  to  difpofe  of  them,  and 
that  they  are  like  other  commodities, 
tranfported  by  the  merchants,  who 
.have  bought  them  into  America,  in  or- 
der to  be  expofed  to  fale.  If  this  trade 
admits  of  a  moral  or  a  rational  juftifi- 
cation,  every  crime,  even  the  moft  atro- 
cious,   may  be  justified.      Government 

was 


C  75  ] 

was  inftituted  for  the  good  of  mankind  ; 
kings,  princes,  governors,  are  not  pro- 
prietors or  thofe  who  are  fubjecl:  to  their 
authority ;  they  have  not  a  right  to 
make  them  miferable.  On  the  contrary, 
their  authority  is  veiled  in  them,  that 
they  may,  by  the  juft  exercife  of  it,  pro- 
mote  the  happineis  of  their  people.  Of 
courfe  they  have  not  a  right  to  difpofe 
of  their  liberty,  and  to  fell  them  for 
Haves.  Beikles,  no  man  has  a  right  to 
acquire  or  to  purchafe  them  :  Men  and 
their  liberty  are  not  either  faleable  or 
purchafeable. — No  one,  therefore,  has 
any  but  himfelf  to  blame,  in  cafe  he  (hall 
find  himfelf  deprived  of  a  man,  whom 
he  thought  he  had,  by  buying  for  a 
price,  made  his  own  ;  for  he  dealt  in  a 
trade  which  was  illicit,  and  was  prohi- 
bited by  the  moil  obvious  dictates  of 
humanity.  For  thefe  reafons,  every  one 
of  thpfe  unfortunate  men,  who  are  pre- 
tended to  be  ilaves,  has  a  right  to  be  de- 
clared to  be  free,  for  he  never  loft  his 
liberty  ;  he  could  not  lofe  it  ;  his  prince 
had  no  power  to  difpofe  of  him.  Of 
courfe  the  fale  was  ipfo  jure  void.  This 
light  he  carries  about  with  him,  and  is 
entitled  every,  where  to  get  declared. 
As  foon,  therefore,  as  he  comes  into  a 
country  in  which  the  judges  are  not  for- 
H  2  getful 


C  7<$] 

getful  of  their  own  humanity,  it  is  their 
duty  to  remember  that  he  is  a  man,  and 
to  declare  him  to  he  free.  I  know  it  has 
been  faid,  that  queflions  concerning  the 
itate  of  perfons  ought  to  be  determined 
by  the  law  of  the  country  to  which  they 
belong ;  and  that,  therefore,  one  who 
would  be  declared  to  be  a  Have  ill  Ame- 
rica^ ought,  in  cafe  he  mould  happen  to 
be  imported  into  Britain,  to  be  adjudged 
according  to  the  law  of  America  to  be 
a  ilave ;  a  doctrine,  than  which  nothing 
can  be  more  barbarous.  Ought  the 
judges  of  any  country,  out  of  refpect  to 
the  hw  of  another,  to  fhew  no  refpect 
to  their  kind  and  to  humanity.  Out  of 
refpeel  to  a  law,  which  is-  in  no  fort  ob- 
ligatory upon  them,  ought  they  to  dif- 
regard  the  law  of  nature,  which  is  obli- 
gatory on  all  men  at  all  times,  and  in 
all  places  :  Are  any  laws  fo  binding  as 
the  eternal  laws  of  juflice  ?  It  is  doubt- 
ful, whether  a  judge  ought  to  pay  great- 
er regard  to  them,  than  to  thofe  arbitra- 
ry and  inhuman  ufages  which  prevail  in 
a  diftant  land  ?  Aye,  but  our  colonies 
would  be  ruined,  if  iiavexy  was  abolifh- 
ed.  Be  it  fo  ;  would  it  not  from  thence 
follow,  that  the  bulk  of  mankind  ought 
to  be  abufed,  that  our  pockets  may  be 
filled  with  money,  or  our  mouths  with 

delicacies  ? 


[  77  ] 

delicacies  ?  The  purfes  of  highwaymen 
would  be  empty  in  cafe  robberies  were 
totally  aboliihed  3  but  have  men  a  right  to 
acquire  money  by  going  out  to  the  high* 
way  ?  Have  men  a  right  to  acquire  it  by 
rendering  their  fellow  creatures  miiera- 
ble  ?  h  it  lawful  to  abufe  mankind,  that 
the  avarice,  the  vanity,  or  the  pailion  of 
a  few  may  be  gratified?  No!  There  is 
fuch  a  thing  as  juilice,  to  which  the  moil: 
facred  regard  is  due.  It  ought  to  be  in- 
violably obferved.  Have  not  theie  un- 
happy men  a  better  right  to  their  liber- 
ty and  to  their  happinefs,  than  our  Ame- 
rican merchants  have  to  the  profits  which 
they  make  by  torturing  their  kind  ?  Let 
therefore  our  colonics  be  ruined,  but  let 
us  not  render  fo  many  men  miferables. 

Would  not  any  of  us,.  who  mould- 

be  matched  by  pirates  from  his  native 
land,  think  himfelf  cruelly  abufed,  and 
at  all  times  intitled  to  be  free.  Have  not 
thefe  unfortunate  Africans^-  who  meet 
with  the  fame  cruel  fate,  the  fame  right  ? 
Are  not  they  men  as  well  as  we,  and 
have  they  not  the  fame  fenfibiiity  ?J' 

"  But  it  is  falfe,  that  either  we,  or  our 
colonies  would  be  ruined  by  the  aboli- 
tion of  flavery.  It  might  oecafion  a  (lag- 
nation  of  bufinefs  for  a  fliort  time.  Every 
great  alteration  produces  that  efFed :  Be- 
H   3  caufe 


[  73  1  * 

eaiife  mankind  cannot  on  a  fuddcn,  find 
ways  of  difpoiing  of  themfelves  and  of 
their  affairs :  But  it  would  produce  many 
happy  e Heels.  It  is  the  ilavery  which  is 
permitted  in  America  that  has  hindered 
it  from  becoming  fo  populous,  as  it  would 
other  wife  have  done.  Let  the  negroes 
free,  and  in  a  few  generations,  this  vail 
and  fertile  continent,  would  be  crowded 
with  inhabitants;  learning*  arts,  and 
every  thing  would  flourim  arnongfl  them : 
Inftead  of  being  inhabited  by  wild  beails^. 
and  by  favages,  it  would  be  peopled  by 
philofophers,  and  by  men."  Prins.  law 
ef  Scoth 

li  He  who  detain?  another  by  force  in 
ilavery,  is  always  bound  to  prove  his 
title.  The  Have  fold  or  carried  into  a 
diftant  country,  mull  not  be  obliged  to 
prove  a  negative,  that  he  never  forfeited 
his  liberty.  The  violent  poiFefTor  mull  in 
air  cafes  mew  his  title,  efpecially  where 
the  old  proprietor  is  well  known.  In  this 
cafe,  each  man  is  the  original  proprietor 
of  his  own  liberty.  The  proof  of  his  lofing 
it  muft  be  incumbent  on  thofe  who  de- 
prive him  of  it  by  force."  Syfl.  mor.  fhiL 

"  Long  and  ferious  reflections  upon  the 
nature  and  co-nfequences  of  ilavery  have 

convinced 


[  19  J 

convinced  me,  that  it  is  a  violation  both 
of  juftice  and  religion  ;  that  it  is  danger- 
ous to  the  fafety  of  the  community  in 
which  it  prevails  ;  that  is  it  deftruclive 
to  the  growth  of  arts  and  fciences  ;  and 
laftly,  that  it  produces  a  numerous  and 
very   fatal   train   of  vices,    both  in   the 

Have,  and  in  his  mailer. Freedom  is 

unquestionably  the  birth  right  of  all  man- 
kind ;  Africans  as  well  as  Europeans  :  to 
keep  the  former  in  a  ftate  of  fiavery,.  h 
a  con  flan  t  violation  of  that  right,  and 
therefore  alfo  of  juilice. — r—  The  Britifh 
merchants  obtains  the  negroes  form  A~ 
frica,  by  violence,  artilice,  and  treachery, 
with  a  few  trinkets  to  prompt  thofe  un- 
fortunate people,  to  enilave  one  another, 
by  force  or  ftratagenn  Purchafe  them, 
indeed  they  may,  under  the  authority 
of  an  act.  of  the  Britifh.  parliament.  An 
act  entailing  upon  the  Africans  (with 
whom  we  were  not  at  war,  and  over 
whom  a  Britifh-  parliament  could  not  of 
right  affurne  even  a  fhadow  of  authority) 
the  dreadful  curfe  of  perpetual  fiavery* 
upon  them  and  their  children  forever. 
There  cannot  be  in  nature^  there  is  not  in 
all  hi  (lory,  an  in/lance' in  which  every  right 
ef  men  is  more  flagrantly  violated"  Lee's 
Add. 

EXTRACT 


C     80     I 

EXTRACT  of  a  Sermon  preached  by  the. 
Bifhop  of  Gloucefter,  before  the  So- 
ciety  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel 
at  their  anniversary  meeting,  on  the 
2 1  it  of  February,   ij66. 

FR  O  M  the  free-favages  I  now  come 
(the  laft  point  I  propofe  to  confider) 
to  the  ravages  in  bonds.  By  thefe  I  mean 
the  vaft  multitudes  yearly  ilolcn  from 
the  oppolite  continent,  and  facriEced  by 
the  colonics  to -their  great  idol,  the  God 
of  Gain.  But  what  then,  fay  thefe  fin- 
cere  worihippers  of  Mammon,  they  are 
our  own  property,  which  we  offer  up. 
Gracious  God!  to  talk  (as  in  herds  of 
cattle)  of  property  in  rational  creatures ! 
creatures  endowed  with  all  our  faculties, 
poffeffing  all  our  qualities  but  that  of  co- 
lour ;  our  brethren  both  by  nature  and: 
grace,  fhocks  all  the  feelings  of  humani- 
ty, and  the  dictates  of  common  fenfe. 
But,  alas  i  what  is  there  in  the  infinite 
abufes  of  fociety  which  does  not  mock 
them  ?  Yet  nothing  is  more  certain  in 
itfelf,  and  apparent  to  all,  than  that 
the  infamous  traffic  for  flaves  direclly 
infringes  both  divine  and  human  law. 
Nature  created  man  free,  \  and  grace  Invites 
him  to  ajfert  his  freedom*     h\  excufe  of 

this 


[  «i  3 

this  violation,   it  hath  been  pretended, 
that  though  indeed  thefe  miferable  out- 
cafts  of  humanity   be  torn  from    their 
homes  and  native  country  by  fraud  and 
violence,  yet  they  thereby   become   the 
happier,   and  their  condition  the   more 
eligible.     But  who  are  You,  who  pre- 
tend to  judge  of  another  man's  happinefe  ? 
That  ftate,  which  each  man,  under  the 
guidance  of  his  maker,  forms  forhimfelf; 
and  not  one  man  for  another.     To  know 
what  confiitutes  mine  or  your  happinefs, 
is  the  fole  prerogative  of  him  who  created 
us,  and  call  us  in  fo  various  and  differ- 
ent moulds.     Did  your  flaves  ever  com- 
plain to  you  of  their  unhappinefs  amidft 
their   native    woods    and   defarts  ?     Or, 
rather,  let  me  a(k,  did  they  ever  ceafe 
complaining  of  their  condition  under  you 
their  lordly   mailers  ?    Where  they  fee, 
indeed,  the  accommodations  of  civil  life, 
but  fee  them  all  pafs  to  others,  them- 
felves,  unbenefited  by  them.     Be  fo  gra- 
cious then,   ye   petty   tyrants   over    hu- 
man freedom,  to  let  your  flaves  judge 
for  themfelves,  what  it  is  which  makes 
their  own  happinefs.     And  then  fee  whe- 
ther they  do  not  place  it  in  the  return  to 
their  own  country,  rather   than  in  the 
contemplation  of  your  grandeur,  of  which 

their 


[  ?j  ] 

their  mifery  makes  10  large  a  part.  A 
return  fo  paflionately  longed  for,  that 
defpairing  of  happinefs  here,  that  is,  of 
efcaping  the  chains  of  their  cruel  talk 
mailers,  they  confole  themfelves  with 
feigning  it  to  be  the  gracious  reward  of 
heaven  in  their  future  ftate  ;  which  I  do 
not  find  their  haughty  mailers  have  as 
yet  concerned  themfelves  to  invade.  The 
lefs  hardy  indeed  wait  for  this  felicity 
till  overwearied  nature  fets  them  free,. 
but  the  more  refolved  have  recourfe  even 
to  felf-violence,  to  force  a  fpeedier  paf- 
fage. 

But  it  will  be  dill  urged,  that  though 
what  is  called  human  happinefs  be  of  fo 
fantaftic  a  nature,  that  each  man's  ima- 
gination creates  it  for  himfelf,  yet  hu- 
man mifery  is  more  fubftantial  and  uni- 
form throughout  all  the  tribes  of  man- 
kind. Now,  from  the  worft  of  human 
miferies,  the  favage  Africans  by  thefe 
forced  emigrations,  are  intirely  fecured, 
fuch  as  the  being  perpetually  hunted 
down  like  beafls  of  prey  or  profit,  by 
their  more  favage  and  powerful  neigh- 
bours  In  truth,  a  bleffed  change! — 

from  being  hunted  to  being  caught.  But 
who  are  they  that  have  fet  on  foot  this 
general    Hunting?     Are    thev    not 

'  thefe 


[  23  3 

tliefe  very  civilized  violators  of  humani- 
ty themfelves  ?  Who  tempt  the  weak 
appetites,  and  provoke  the  wild  pailions 
of  the  fiercer  favages  to  prey  upon  the 

reft/' 


THE    END, 


Some 
NECESSARY 

REMARKS 

ON       THE 

EDUCATION 

OF       THE 

Y    O    U,  T    H 

in  the  Country-parts  of  this,  and 
the  neighbouring 

GOVERNMENT  S, 

THAT  tlie  religious  and  civil  education  of 
our  young  people  is  an  affair  of  the  great- 
eft  importance,  as  it  not  only  concerns  the  hap- 
pinefs  of  individuals,  but  the  welfare  and  pro- 
sperity of  Society,  all  are  ready  to  acknowledge; 
but  when  we  caft  our  eyes  over  the  country  and 
confider  the  little  attention  arid  pains  employed 
therein,    we  mud  allow  that  people  either  do 

riot 


(  *  ) 
not  fpeak  as  they  think,  or  that  what  they 
mean  by  education,  is  fomething  elfe  than  to 
qualify  their  children  to  be  ufeful  and  fervice- 
able  in  life;  and  to  fit  them  for  eternal  happi- 
nefs.  If  the  boy  be  defigned  for  any  of  the 
learned  profefilons,  inquiry  is  made  for  a  ma- 
iler to  teach  him  Latin;  but  if  he  be  only  de- 
figned for  the  common  offices  of  life,  it  is 
thought  fufficient  that  he  be  taught  to  read  and 
write,  with  a  little  arithmetick,  and  that  often 
bu-t  very  imperfectly;  no  matter  by  whom, 
but  the  cheaper  the  better.  Thus  it  happens 
that  perfons,  every  way,  unqualified,  both  in 
learning  and  morals,  are,  for  the  fake  of  hav- 
ing it  done  cheaper,  entrufted  with  the  educa- 
tion of  children;  by  which  means,  the  youth 
are  deprived  of  learning,  and  inftead  of  im- 
proving in  virtue,  which  ought  to  be  the  main 
defign  of  innxuclion,  rather  become  proficients 
in  vice.  For,  it  is  an  undoubted  truth,  con- 
firmed by  fatal  experience,  that  children  catch 
the  vices  of  thofe  with  whom  they  converfe, 
and  that  impreffions  made  on  their  tender  minds 
are  deep  and  lailing.  The  love  we  owe  to 
God  our  great  and  good  Creator,  good  will  to 
men,  a  ftricl:  regard  to  truth ;  a  government  of 
their  appetites  and  paflions,  fhould  be,  as  much 
as  poiiible,  enforced  on  the  youth  * 

If 

*  The  chief  aim  -of  inflruclion  pointed  out  by  the  Gofpel, 
and  enforced  by  the  wife  men  of  every  age  and  nation  was 
the  amendment  of; .die  heart:  Tlie  Lacedemonians  and 
Perfians  accounted  ingratitude  a  crime,,  whoever  was  even 
capable  of  forgetting  a  benefit  was  looked  upon  as  the 
enemy  of  mankind. 


(  3') 
If  we  really  wifh  to  fee  our  children  grow 
up-  in  virtue  and  knowledge,  and  qualified  to 
be  ufeful  members  of  Society,  the  means  muft 
be  procured,  to  which  it  is  to  be  hoped,  that 
ttiofe  who  have  not,  as  ueil  as  thofe  who  have 
children,  would  cheerfully  contribute,  without 
regard  to  any  immediate  advantage,  they  are 
to  reap;  virtuous  perfons  qualified  f  or  fo  weigh- 
ty an  employment  mnft-  be  fought  for:  And 
in  order  that  this  may  be  done  upon  a  lading 
bottom,  where  the  eftablifhment  of  a  School  is 
neceffary,  a  fund  fhoiiid  be  railed,  which  thro* 
the  divine  bleiling,  by  donations,  legacies,  &c* 
may  become  a  lading  fettiement;  a  lot  of  ground 
fhould  be  provided,-  Sufficient  for  a  garden,  cfch^ 
ard,  grafs  for  a  cow,.  &c.  a  hoiife,  fhbles,  &c. 
erected  thereon:  There  are  few  neighbour- 
hoods, but  may,  in  money  from  the  rick,  and 
materials  and  labour  from  others,  contribute  fo 
much  as  will  an-fwer  this  charge;  fuch  a  fettle- 
ment,  with  a  reafonabie  Salary,  will  be  an  en- 
couragement to  a  fober  perfon,  with  a  family, 
who-  will  be  likely  Z<y  fpend  his  life  in  the  fer- 
vice;  fuch  an  one,  from  the  experience  he  will 
gain,  Will  be  much  more  likely  to  anfwer  the 
good  end  propofed,  than  fuch  transient  perfons 
as  are  often  employed.  Indeed  the  illjudged 
euftom  which  has  generally  prevailed  with  the 
country  people,  of  hiring  a  fmgle  perfon,  on 
account  of  cheapnefs,  and  for  the  fake  of  board- 
ing him,  amongft  themfeives,  is  attended  with 
many  inconveniences.  Thefe  are  frequently 
perfons  of  no  liability,  and  little  principle,  who 
engage  ia  that  fervice,  for  a  prefent  mainten- 
ance, 


nnce,  which  they  are  ready  to  quit,  when  ever 
fomething  more  agreeable  to  their  intereft  or 
humour  offers;  fo  that,  they  have  as  little  defire 
as  opportunity,  of  gaining  that  neceffary  ex- 
perience, which,  nothing  will  fo  effectually 
give,  as  a  ferious  and  fteady  practice. 

It  is  a  moft  abfurd  piece  of  thrift,  for  the 
fake  of  adding  40,  or  50  pounds  to  a  child's 
.fortune,  to  deprive  him  of  the  benefit  of  a  pro- 
per education,  for  only  to  confider  it  in  the 
light  of  prudence,  the  child,  if  well  inftructed, 
will  readily  fave  or  gain  that  much  more ;  and, 
if  taught  wherein  true  happinefs  coniiiis,  he 
will  never  repine  at  the  want  of  that  fmall  fum; 
but  to  a  perfon  unprincipled  in  virtue,  or  cor- 
rupted with  evil  habits,  what  is  40  or  50  pounds 
more  or  lefs?  Nay,  does  not  daily  experience 
£bew  Us  that  the  greatefl  wealth  often  anfwers 
little  or  no  other  purpofe,  than  to  adminfter  to 
folly,  luxury,  and  debauchery;  to  inilame  the 
paffions  of  the  youth,  and  give  a  wider  range 
to  their  licentioufnefs. 

And,  in  order  that  this  neceflary  fervice  fhould  be 
managed  to  the  heft  advantage,  a  number  of  perfons 
the  beft  qualified,  and  able  to  attend  the  fervice,  fhould 
be  chofen,  to  take  upon  them  the  care  and  overfight 
of  the  School;  to  advife  and  affift  the  mafter;  and  to 
be  efpecially  careful,  that  the  children  of  the  poor  be 
encouraged  to  attend,  and  be  admitted,  free  of  cofh 
And  the  matters  and  overfeers  are  exhorted,  and  en- 
treated, not  to  repine  or  grudge  any  labour  they  may 
bellow  in  this  good  fervice,  beyond  what  has  been 
ufualj  but  remember,  they  are  promoting  the  purpofes 
of  our  good  Creator,  whole  will  is  the  happinefs  of  his 
creatures,  who  is  able  and  willing  to  repay  even  a  cup 
of  cold  water  eiven  in  his  name;  and  the  comfort  it  will 


(     5     ) 

in  future  afford  them  to  reflect,  that  they  have  in  fome 
meafure,  been  the  happy  inftruments  in  laying  the  foun- 
dation for  making;  the  youth  ferviceable  and  happy  here, 
and  of  promoting  their  eternal  happinefs  hereafter. 

The  following  advices  are  fubmitted  to  the  confidera- 
tion  of  thofe  overfeers  and  Tutors  who  may  be  ap- 
pointed to  the  care  of  fuch  Schools, 

lft.  That  in  teaching  Englim,  particular  care  (hould 
be  taken  to  make  children  fpell  correctly,  by  exercif- 
ing  them,  frequently,  in  that  necefTary  branch  of  their 
learning. 

id.  That  endeavours  be  ufed  to  make  the  Scholars 
read  with  proper  emphafis  and  punctuation,  to  which 
purpofe  it  will  be  alio  neceiTary,  befides  the  Bible  to 
make- ufe  of  Hiftorical  and  Religious  Authors,  of  which 
the  School  ought  to  be  furnifhed  with  proper  fetts. 

3</.  That  fuch  parts  of  Grammer  as  are  applicable 
to  the  Englim.  tongue,  be  taught  thofe  boys  who  are 
fit  for  it,  in  order  to  make  them  write  properly,  but 
that  they  be  as  little  as  pomble,  perplexed  with  fuch 
nice  diitinctions,  as  have  no  foundation  in  the  nature 
ef  our  language. 

^.th.  That  the  Matter  as  often  as  is  convenient  make 
a  practice  of  dictating,  to  fuch  Scholars  who  write 
tolerably  well,  fome  fentence  out  of  fome  good  Author 
which  they  are  to  write  after  him;  then  the  Matter 
carefully  correct  it,  making  fuch  Grammatick  and 
Orthographic  remarks  as  are  neceflary:  This  the 
Scholar  mutt  write  over  in  his  Book,  which  being 
again  reviewed  by  the  Matter  and  the  remaining  omif- 
fions  noted,  may  be  copied  in  the  neateft  manner  on  the 
oppofite  page.  Some  modern  Grammarians  alfo  pro- 
pofe,  that  the  Tutors  give  their  fcholars  fome  portion 
of  Hiftory,  Sec.  expreffed  in  fa'fe  Orthography,  Gram- 
mar, &c.  which  they  with  the  help  of  a  Dictionary  and 
fome  general  Grammatle  Rules  mud  make  out  as  cor- 
rect as  they  can,  which  after  being  fubmitted  to  the 
Tutor's  Remarks  and  Correction,  ihould  be  neatly 
copied  over  in  their  writing  Books.  Thele  methods  if 
carefully  purfued  will  much  help  their  dictionj  improve 

their 


(     6     ) 

their  fpelling;  teach  them  to  copy  correclly;  and  in 
fome  rneafure  fupply  the  want  of  Claflical  Learning 

$th.  That  in  writing  care  be  taken  to  promote  a  ffrong 
free  hand,  .which  will  be  of  moit  common  ufe,  and 
from  which  all  other  hands  may  be  eafly  formed.  And 
that  the  Mafter  be  particularly  careful  to  make  the  pu- 
pils fit  in  right  portions  at  their  writing  and  that  they 
hold  their  pen  properly,  on  this  their  perfection  in 
writing  very  much  depends. 

bth.  That  in  teaching  Axithmetick  it  be  recommend- 
ed to  the  mailer  to  give  in  the  jRrft  place  the  moil  plain 
and  practical  rules;  leaving  thofe  that  are  abftruce  and 
not  generally  neceifary,  to  boys  of  the  brighteft  genius, 
ox  lei  Cure. 

yth.  That  a  fmall,  but  very  plain  kt  of  Merchants 
Accompt  Books,  visa,  a  Day  Book,  or  journal  and 
Ledger  be  provided^  juft  fufficient  to  make  the  Scholars 
acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  moil  plain  entries  of 
Debtor  and  Creditor;  that  they  not  only  be  made  to 
copy  thefe,  in  a  neat  and  correct  manner,  but  that  the 
mafter  ufe  his  befl  endeavours  that  they  be  made  to  ur> 
derftand  the  reafon  of  what  they  are  doing. 

%th.  That  no  latin  be  attempted  to  be  taught,  unlefs 
a  School  mould  be  erected  folety  for  that  purpofe:  The 
teaching  that  language,  in  an  Englifh  School,  infallibly 
confuming  i&ore  of  the1  mailers  time,  than  can  be  fpared 
from  his  other  foufinefs;  and  the  few  Latin-Scholars 
mufl  be  very  indifferently  attended 

qtb.  That  feme  method  be  thought  of  for  limiting 
fehe  number  of  fcholars,  fo  that  the  mafter  be  not  over- 
preft,  in  fome  feafons  of  the  year;  and  that  the  poor  be 
properly  coniidered. 

That  fuch  Rules,  or  Orders  as  may  be  thought  ne- 
ceiTary,  be  provided  and  fet  up  in  fome  public  place  in 
the  School;  and  that  the  mafter  be  enjoined  to  require 
itri'dl:  obedience  to  every  one  of  them. 

The  following  Rules  of  conduct,  to  fcholars  extracled, 
from  thofe  ufed  in  fome  of  the fcbools  in  Philadelphia,. 
are  propofed  to  the  confederation  of  overfeers,  and  tu- 
tors, to  be  improved  and  added  to,  as  their  experience 
and  iituation  may  make  necefiary.. 


(     7     ) 

i/?.  Fail  not  to  be  at  fchool  precifely  at  the  time 
appointed;  unlefs  good  reafon  an  be  aili-gned  to  the 
m  after. 

%d.  Be  always  filent  at  your  ftudies,  fo  that  your 
voices  be  not  heard,  unlefs  when  faying  your  leffons, 
or  fpeaking  to  your  malter:  Hold  no  difcourfe  with 
your  fchool -fellows,  during  the  time  of  ftudy,  unlefs 
to  afk  fomething  relating  to  your  learning  and  then  in 
a  low  voice, 

2/i-  Make  all  your  fpeeches  to  your  master  with  due 
refpect.;  obferving  cheerfully  his  directions,  according 
to  your  abilities. 

qtb.  Behave  yourfelves  always  in  a  gentle,  obliging 
manner,  to  your  fchool-fellows;  tenderly  affectionate, 
never  provoking  one  another;  contending  nor  complain- 
ing about  frivolous  matters;  but  courteously  ufe  kind 
expreiSons  one  towards  the  other;  obferving  to  make 
fome  grateful  return  for  any  little  kindnefs  received. 

§th.  Be  not  forward  to  divulge  any  thing  pafied  In 
fchool,  nor  to  mock,  or  jeer  your  fchooi  fellows  for 
being  corrected;  it  is  unkind,  and  may  happen  to  be 
your  own  caie. 

6tb.  Never  tell  a  lie,  or  ufe  artful  evafions,  nor  de- 
fraud any  perfon,  by  word  or  deed:  Swear  not  at  alt; 
nor  ule  the  name  of  God  irreverently,  or  in  vain : 
Mock  not  the  aged,  the  lame,  deformed  or  infane. 
Throw  no  fticks,  ftones,  dirt,  fnowballs,  or  any  other 
thing  at  any  perfon,  or  creature:  Revile  no  perfon; 
nor  utter  any  indecent  expreflions:  Never  return  any 
injury  or  affront;  but  forgive,  agreeable  to  the  pofi- 
tive  injunction  given  us  in  the  Lord's  prayer.  To  for- 
give as  we  defire  to  be  forgiven,  and  the  Apoftle's  ad- 
vice. That  we  forgive  one  another,  even  as  God,  for 
Chrifis  Jake,  has  forgiven  us;  but  in  all  things  to  the  beft 
of  your  power,  behave  in  a  modeft,  civil,  and  complai- 
fant  manner  to  all. 

At  Home.  Before  you  rife  from  your  beds,  obferve 
to  look  up  to  your  Creator,  offering  a  mental  petition 
to  Him  for  help  and  protection,  during  the  courfe  of 
the  day. 


(     8     ) 

Obferve,  cheerfully,  and  readily,  to  comply  with  vour 
parent's  commands;  always  addrefling  them  with' ho- 
nour and  refpecl:,  remembering  the  blefiing  annexed,  in 
the  third  commandment,  to  the  duty  of  honouring  your 
Parents. 

Treat  your  Brothers  and  Sifters  with  affe&ion  2nd 
good  manners;  and,  in  like  manner,  behave  to  the  mea- 
neft  Servant;  with  kindnefs  ufing  the  word  pleafe,  &c. 
where  proper;  that  your  good  example  may  induce 
them  fo  to  behave  to  you:  Join  not  in  their  idle  talk  or 
jetting;  but  choofe  the  company  of  perfons,  whofe  con- 
versation is  moft  improving  in  the  beft  things. 

Be  not  forward  to  fit  down 'at  table  before  your 
elders;  when  feated  be  not  eager  to  fall  to  your  vicluals, 
like  the  brute  beaft;  but  firft  make  a  folemn  paufe,  en- 
deavouring to  retire  in  your  minds,  in  thankfulnefs  to 
the  fupreme  giver  of  them.  Dont  offer  to  carve  or  afk 
for  yourfelves,  but  wait  till  you  are  ferved;  find  no  fault 
with  your  food;  but  having  eaten  moderately,  rife  from 
table,  without  noife,  unlefs  defired  to  flay. 

At  places  of  Worfhip,  Obferve  to  be  prefent  at  the 
times  appointed,  entering  the  place  foberly,  fo  as  not 
to  difturb  the  meditations  of  thofe  that  are  met:  Sit  in 
a  decent  compofure  of  body  and  mind,  putting  up  your 
petitions  to  your  heavenly  Father,  with  an  humble  re- 
verend difpofition;  requeuing  tcT~be  enabled  to  offer 
him  fpiritual  and  acceptable  worfhip.  When  worfhip 
is  over  rife  not  up  in  a  hurry,  nor  be  impatient  to  be 
gone,  but  refpectf  ully  pafs  along  without  preffing,  and 
return  decently  home. 


THE  LIBRARY  OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


PRESENTED  BY  THE 

WILLIAM  A.  WHITAKER 

FOUNDATION 


RARE  BOOK  COLLECTION 


BR55 
,C6 

no. 1-5 


1 


1 


